Babergh Hundred

Babergh Hundred

Babergh was a hundred of Suffolk, consisting of 71,882 acres (290.90 km2). Its name survives in that of Babergh District, the local government district of southern Suffolk that includes the former hundred as well as those of Cosford and Samford.

It consisted of the land to the north, east and south-east of Sudbury, the hundred's largest town, and its southern boundary forms the border with Essex. The majority of the land is rural.

It was listed as Baberga in the Domesday Book, and the name is believed to mean "Mound of a man called Babba".[1]

The name derives from Babergh Heath, an area of land around the villages of Great and Little Waldingfield. The village of Great Waldingfield is home to Babergh Hall, the ancient meeting place of the hundred.[2]

Parishes

Suffolk hundreds
Suffolk hundreds

Babergh Hundred consisted of the following 33 parishes:[3]

Parish Area (acres)
Acton 2729
Alpheton 1212
Assington 2974
Boxford 1802
Boxted 1367
Brent Eleigh 1625
Bures St Mary 2542
Cavendish 3393
Chilton 868
Cockfield 3626
Edwardstone 1872
Glemsford 2293
Great Cornard 1550
Great Waldingfield 2424
Groton 1572
Hartest 1964
Lavenham 2812
Lawshall 2907
Little Cornard 1600
Little Waldingfield 1700
Long Melford 5186
Milden 1332
Monks Eleigh 2099
Nayland 942
Newton 2198
Polstead 3402
Preston 1970
Shimpling 2699
Somerton 1040
Stanstead 1162
Stoke-by-Nayland 4600
Sudbury 1250
Wiston 1170

References

  1. ^ A. D. Mills (2003). A Dictionary of British Place-Names.
  2. ^ "Little Waldingfield Conservation Area" (PDF). Babergh District Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2011.
  3. ^ 1841 Census

52°04′N 0°47′E / 52.06°N 0.79°E / 52.06; 0.79