Tiptree

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Tiptree
latitude= 51.81
longitude= 0.75
population = 8,305 [ [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/census2001/ks_urban_south_east_part_1.pdf Key Statistics for urban areas in the South East] . 2001 Census, National Statistics. Retrieved on February 11, 2007.]
shire_district= Colchester
shire_county = Essex
region= East of England
constituency_westminster=North Essex
post_town= COLCHESTER
postcode_district = CO5
postcode_area= CO
dial_code= 01621
os_grid_reference= TL895165

Tiptree, located in Essex, is a village in England situated between Colchester and Chelmsford. Population: c. 9500. Its most notable attribute is the large preserves factory, Wilkin & Sons. Wilkins products are known and sold the world over. The village also has a windmill, which can be seen from the main street, Church Road.

Description

The village has been expanding rapidly for several years with large numbers of new houses and estates being built though it stills retains the title of being a village. Tiptree has two supermarkets, both quite large in size: the Co-op and most recently Tesco. The 'village' status was the subject of a local referendum in 1999 but residents and secondary school pupils rejected town status. Tiptree is amongst the contenders for the title of 'largest village in England' along with Kidlington, Oxfordshire; Studley, Warwickshire; and Bembridge, Isle of Wight.

Tiptree has four primary schools: St Luke's Church of England Primary school, Milldene Primary School, Tiptree Heath Primary School and Baynard's Primary School; and a secondary school: Thurstable School, which has also been designated a sports college.

It is also home to JobServe the world’s first online recruitment service, based on the Tower Business Park they now employ around 100 local people. Started in 1993 the company has grown significantly and in 2006 the company processed in excess of 9 million job applications. JobServe also have an office in Sydney, Australia and in 2006 expanded into North America purchasing CareerBoard.com, Computerwork.com, ComputerJobs.com and JobShark.com

Tiptree is administered by Colchester Borough Council and Essex County Council. It lies in the Parliamentary constituency of North Essex although the Boundary Commission has recommended the creation of a Witham constituency which would incorporate Tiptree. It is situated 10 miles from Colchester and around 50 miles north east of London. Surrounding villages include Messing, Tolleshunt Knights, Layer Marney, Inworth, Birch, Great Braxted, Great Totham and Little Totham.

Within the Church of England, the village is part of the United Benefice of Tolleshunt Knights with Tiptree and Great Braxted. The parish church is Saint Luke's, located on Church Road, next to St Lukes CofE Primary School. The church celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2006. The current incumbent is the Rev Martin Fletcher, supported by a curate - the Rev Jo Dudley.

The 25 hectare Tiptree Heath is the largest surviving fragment of heathland in Essex. It is a site of special scientific interest. [cite web |url=http://www.english-nature.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1004264.pdf |title=Tiptree Heath |format=PDF |accessdate=2008-07-19]

The area became a focal point for smugglers, who used the secluded water inlets of Tollesbury, Salcott and Mersea and often hid their contraband within the overgrown heathland. [cite web |url=http://www.tiptreeturner.co.uk/tiptreefront.html |title=Tiptree - The Story So Far |accessdate=2008-07-19 |format=HTML ]

Transport

From about 1904 until 1951 the village was served by the Kelvedon and Tollesbury Light Railway (locally known as the Crab and Winkle Line). It was an early victim of the cutbacks to the British rail network of the 1950s and 1960s.

Today, the village is dissected by the B1022 Colchester to Maldon road, and the B1023 Kelvedon to Tollesbury road. Tiptree is also close to the main A12 trunk road which passes through Essex.

Tiptree Preserves

Tiptree is an internationally recognised brand of preserves manufactured in the village by Wilkin & Sons. The business was founded by the Wilkins, a local farming family in 1885. [cite web |url=http://www.tiptree.com/family_history.php |title=Wilkin Family History |format=HTML |accessdate=2008-07-19 ]

The American science fiction author Alice Sheldon adopted the pseudonym of James Tiptree Jr in 1967. The name "Tiptree" came from a jar of marmalade and so indirectly from the Essex village.

References

External links

* [http://www.tiptree.com/ Wilkin & Sons Ltd]
* [http://www.tiptreeturner.co.uk/ Village history and photos]