Notable villages in Suffolk, 1842
Long Melford is in Babergh hundred, about 2 miles north of Sudbury. It consists of one street, nearly a mile in length, extending along the road from Sudbury to Bury. The church is large, and of perpendicular character, with an extensive building, in chequer-work, of flint and stone at the east end.
Melford has some old mansion-houses and an almshouse or hospital. The population in 1831 was 2,514, about one third agricultural.
Yoxford, in Blything hundred, is on the Yarmouth road, about 4 miles beyond Saxmundham. It is pleasantly situated, and has a well-built street of modern houses. The population in 1831 was 1,149.
Hoxne (anciently Eglesdune or Hagilsdun) has some historical interest as the place where St. Edmund was taken and killed by the Danes. It is in the hundred of Hoxne, on the bank of the Waveney, not far from Eye. The population in 1831 was 1,243.
Fressingfield, in the same hundred, was the birth-place of Archbishop Sancroft, and the place to which he retired after his deprivation. The population in 1831 was 1,352.
Stradbrook (population in 1831, 1,527), in the same hundred, was the birthplace of Robert Grosseteste, bishop of Lincoln.
East Bergholt and Stratford St. Mary are both in Samford hundred, near the bank of the Stour, between Colchester and Ipswich. East Bergholt has, from the number of good houses in it, an appearance superior to that of most villages. The church is of perpendicular architecture, and has some curious portions. Stratford is pleasantly situated, and has a handsome church. The population of East Bergholt in 1831 was 1360, of Stratford 630.
At Freston, on the bank of the Orwell, in the same hundred, is a quadrangular stone tower, about ten feet by twelve in area, and six stories high, with a polygonal turret at each angle. Its date and purpose are not ascertained. The population of Freston in 1831 was 183.
Wickham Market (population in 1831, 1,202), in Wilford hundred, between Woodbridge and Saxmundham, is on a hill commanding an extensive prospect.
South Town and Gorleston, in Lothingland hundred, are suburbs of Yarmouth, and are included in its parliamentary boundaries. |