Culford

Culford is a village and civil parish about 4 miles (6 km) north of Bury St Edmunds and 62 miles (100 km) north east of London in the West Suffolk district of Suffolk, England.

Culford
Culford is located in Suffolk
Culford
Culford
Location within Suffolk
Area9.02 km2 (3.48 sq mi)
Population578 (2011) [1]
• Density64/km2 (170/sq mi)
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townBury St Edmunds
Postcode districtIP28
Dialling code01284
UK Parliament

According to the 2011 Census the parish had a population of 578, a decrease from 620 recorded at the 2001 census.[2]

A tributary of the River Lark, known as Culford Stream, flows through the centre of the village being fed from Ampton Water in Great Livermere. It continues Westward into West Stow before joining the River Lark at Clough Staunch on the edge of Lackford Lakes.[3][4]

The main village developed along a straight road called "The Street" and there are also some smaller residential areas in Culford, like Benyon gardens, a complex of cul-de-sacs. Most of the houses in central Culford date from the second half of the 1800s and were built as part of the Culford Estate while those at the edges of the village are post-war and later. The centre of the village, along with the Park, and most of West Stow is a conservation area which was established on 4 December 1997.[5][6] The village also encompasses the hamlets of Culford Heath and Chimney Mills.[7]

Village sign in Culford

Culford is home to Culford School, a public school and a member of the Methodist Schools Foundation. The school occupies a former stately home in Culford Park, rebuilt in 1796 for the Cornwallis family.

History

The village's name is derived from the words Cula's Ford, Cula presumed to be name of local leader.[8]

The village is mentioned as Culeforde in the S1225 charter of 1040 AD where Thurketel grants the lands to Bury St Edmunds Abbey.[9] The Domesday Book records the population of Culford in 1086 to be 32 households made up of 2 villagers, 19 freemen, 9 smallholders, and 2 slaves along with 1 cattle, 2 pigs, 85 sheep, and 14 acres of meadow.[10]

In April and May 1291 King Edward I stayed at the manor in Culford during his visit to Bury St Edmunds Abbey where he agreed that royal justices would not in future sit within the Liberty of St Edmund.[11]

In 1804 The Iron Bridge was constructed over the tributary of the River Lark, that flows through Culford Park. It was the world's first iron bridge to be constructed with hollow segments, built to the design of Samuel Wyatt, and is the only Grade I listed structure in the parish.[12]

Culford's Public House, The White Hart, (now known as Benyon Lodge) was closed in December 1840 by Richard Benyon, owner of the Culford Estate between 1824 and 1883, because he regarded it as "a scene of moral debauchery".[13]

The first mention of a postal service in Culford is in July 1852, when a type of postmark known as an undated circle was issued. The post office closed in January 1990 and has since been turned into Culford Day nursery.

Population change
Population growth in Culford from 1801 to 1891
Year 1801 1811 1821 1831 1841 1851 1881 1891
Population 244 239 291 327 352 348 299 364
Number of Houses - - - 55 70 67 73 78
Source: A Vision of Britain Through Time[14] & NOMIS[1]
Population growth in Culford from 1901 to 2001
Year 1901 1911 1921 1931 1951 1961 2001 2011
Population 313 325 284 286 286 286 620 578
Number of Houses 78 - 78 76 89 96 163 184
Source: A Vision of Britain Through Time[14] & NOMIS[1]

Governance

Culford lies in the West Suffolk District of the shire county of Suffolk. The four tiers of government & their respective representatives are:[15]

Culford, West Stow and Wordwell Parish Councill has 7 elected members, 4 for Culford, 2 for West Stow  and 1 for Wordwell.[19]

In terms of community planning the parish does not currently have a Parish Plan or Village Design Statement.

Notable residents

References
  1. UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Culford Parish (E04009301)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  2. "Culford report - Nomis - Official Labour Market Statistics". www.nomisweb.co.uk. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  3. "Culford Stream EA". environment.data.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  4. "St Edmundsbury Local History - Pictures along the River Lark". www.stedmundsburychronicle.com. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  5. "Conservation areas and appraisals". www.westsuffolk.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  6. "West_Stow_and_Culford_Park_Conservation_Area" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 July 2019.
  7. "St Edmundsbury Local History - Water Mills along the River Lark". www.stedmundsburychronicle.co.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  8. Rye, James. (1997). A popular guide to Suffolk place-names. Dereham: Lark's Press. ISBN 0948400552. OCLC 40839119.
  9. "Electronic Sawyer". esawyer.lib.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  10. "Culford | Domesday Book". opendomesday.org. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  11. Prestwich, Michael (1997). "6. The Royal Household". Edward I. New Haven. p. 165. ISBN 978-0-300-14665-3. OCLC 890476967.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  12. "Listed Buildings in Culford, St Edmundsbury, Suffolk". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  13. Isabel Jones (Spring 2007). "Landowners and their motives for change at the Suffolk village of Culford between 1793 and 1903". The Historian (93): 34–37.
  14. "A Vision of Britain Through Time". University of Portsmouth & others. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  15. "Representatives of Culford". Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  16. "The Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP". GOV.UK.
  17. "Beccy Hopfensperger | Suffolk County Council". www.suffolk.gov.uk.
  18. "Councillor details - Councillor Susan Glossop - Portfolio Holder for Growth". democracy.westsuffolk.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  19. "Parish Council". culfordweststowandwordwell.suffolk.cloud. Retrieved 8 June 2019.

Location
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