The parish takes the shape of an irregular triangle formed by two clay ridges flanking rolling countryside through which runs the channel of a seasonal watercourse, the Gull, flowing NW to SE to join the upper River Alde, which forms the village's eastern boundary.
The civil parish had a population of 224 at the 2011 Census.[1] The centre of the village is a Conservation area with numerous historic and listed buildings including its Grade I listed church, The Crown Inn, Crown House and K6 telephone box. From 1974 to 2019 it was in Suffolk Coastal district.
The place-name 'Glemham' is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as Gl(i)emham, in the manors of Edwin Grim and Spearhafoc of Glaimham. Eilert Ekwall comments: "The first element of the names is possibly Old Englishglēam 'merriment'..." By analogy with Glandford in Norfolk, 'Glemham' could mean the 'village where sports were held'.[2]
Britten worked closely with another Glemham resident, the librettist Eric Crozier, on many of his operatic compositions including The Little Sweep. Although set at nearby Iken Hall, the child characters in this work were transplanted from Glemham House, at that time the home of Jock and Fidelity Cranbrook. Both personal friends of the composer, Fidelity was also chair of the newly formed Aldeburgh Festival. Britten and Crozier adopted the names and personas of Jock and Fidelity's children and nephews for the opera, and the opera is "affectionately dedicated to the real Gay, Juliet, Sophie, Tina, Hughie, Jonny and Sammy – the Gathorne-Hardys of Great Glemham, Suffolk."[5]
Notable residents
Samuel Kilderbee(1725–1813)churchman, lawyer, and town clerk of Ipswich, chiefly remembered for being a life-long friend of Thomas Gainsborough.
Eric Crozier (1914 – 1994) British theatrical director and opera librettist, long associated with Benjamin Britten.
Nancy Evans (mezzo-soprano) English mezzo-soprano who had a notable career as a concert and opera singer. Married to Eric Crozier she is also particularly associated with Benjamin Britten who wrote his song cycle, A Charm of Lullabies, and the role of Nancy in his opera Albert Herring for her.
