Asheldham

{{Short description|Village in Essex, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}

{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}

{{Infobox UK place

|country = England

|official_name= Asheldham

|coordinates = {{coord|51.6742|0.8464|display=inline,title}}

|population = 142

|population_ref= (2011)

|civil_parish= Asheldham

|shire_district= Maldon

| shire_county = Essex

|region= East of England

|constituency_westminster= Maldon & East Chelmsford

|post_town= SOUTHMINSTER

|postcode_district= CM0

|postcode_area=CM

|dial_code= 01621

|os_grid_reference= TL969011

|static_image_name = St. Lawrence's church, Asheldham, Essex - geograph.org.uk - 212882.jpg

|static_image_width =

|static_image_caption= St. Lawrence's church, Asheldham

}}

Asheldham is a village and civil parish in Essex, England. It is located about {{convert|14|km|mi|abbr=on}} southeast of Maldon and is {{convert|26|km|mi|abbr=on}} east-southeast from the county town of Chelmsford. The village is in the district of Maldon and the parliamentary constituency of Maldon & East Chelmsford. The village is part of the combined Asheldham and Dengie Parish Council.{{cite web|url=http://www.maldon.gov.uk/LocalDemocracy/ParishCouncils/clerks.htm |title=Parish Council Contacts |accessdate=2007-01-24 |work=www.maldon.gov.uk |url-status = dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928221056/http://www.maldon.gov.uk/LocalDemocracy/ParishCouncils/clerks.htm |archivedate=2007-09-28 }}

It is on the Dengie peninsula, and is about 12 miles by road from Maldon. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 150, reducing to 142 at the Census 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11120123&c=CM0+7DU&d=16&e=62&g=6425483&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1442946117167&enc=1|title=Civil Parish 2011|accessdate=22 September 2015}} The former parish church, dedicated to St Lawrence became redundant in May 1973 and was converted into use as a youth church and residential centre for the Chelmsford Diocese.{{Cite web|title=St Lawrence, Asheldham Church, Essex|url=https://www.essexchurches.info/church.aspx?p=Asheldham|access-date=2022-02-23|website=www.essexchurches.info}}{{Cite web|title=ESSEX CHURCHES|url=http://www.simonknott.co.uk/essexchurches/asheldham.htm|access-date=2022-02-23|website=www.simonknott.co.uk}} With a chancel, nave and tower dating from the 1300s, it is a Grade II listed building.{{Cite web|title=ASHELDHAM YOUTH CHURCH CHURCH OF ST LAWRENCE, Asheldham - 1110970 {{!}} Historic England|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1110970|access-date=2022-02-23|website=historicengland.org.uk|language=en}}

A Ham class minesweeper, HMS Asheldham, launched in September 1953 was named after the hamlet.

Archeological excavations into Romano-British field systems, Anglo-Saxon graves and medieval buildings have taken place in the village.{{Cite book |last=Baker |first=John T. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=958MjgksbckC |title=Cultural Transition in the Chilterns and Essex Region, 350 AD to 650 AD |date=2006 |publisher=Univ of Hertfordshire Press |isbn=978-1-902806-53-2 |pages=91 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last1=Hallam |first1=H. E. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XSE9AAAAIAAJ&dq=asheldham&pg=PA917 |title=The Agrarian History of England and Wales: Volume 2, 1042-1350 |last2=Thirsk |first2=Joan |date=1988-12-08 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-20073-8 |pages=917 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Oosthuizen |first=Susan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6himO-4Xu3cC&dq=asheldham+rippon&pg=PA69 |title=Landscapes Decoded: The Origins and Development of Cambridgeshire's Medieval Fields |date=2006 |publisher=Univ of Hertfordshire Press |isbn=978-1-902806-58-7 |pages=69 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Rippon |first=Stephen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CpgUDAAAQBAJ&dq=asheldham+rippon&pg=PA177 |title=Beyond the Medieval Village: The Diversification of Landscape Character in Southern Britain |date=2008-11-27 |publisher=OUP Oxford |isbn=978-0-19-920382-6 |pages=177 |language=en}}