Wangford Hundred
Wangford is a hundred of Suffolk, consisting of 34,679 acres.[1]
Wangford Hundred is an area of around twelve miles from west to east and five across. The River Waveney forms it s northern border separating it from Norfolk. To the east lies Mutford and Lothingland Hundred, to the south Blything Hundred and to the west Hoxne Hundred.
It is a fertile district, particularly in the broad vale of the Waveney with its rich marshes for feeding cattle. On the south side of the vale the land becomes hilly with an agricultural region of predominantly loam soil. The towns of Bungay and Beccles are the largest settlements in the hundred. The hundred is also home to the collection of 13 parishes (Ilketshall, South Elmham, Flixton and Homersfield) collectively known as The Saints.
Listed as Wanneforda (inter alia) in the Domesday Book, it is believed that this derives from an alternative name for the Waveney and thus means "ford across the Waveney". It is not to be confused with the two other Wangfords in Suffolk.[2]
Parishes
Wangford Hundred consists of the following 27 parishes:[3][1]
| Parish | Area (acres) |
|---|---|
| Barsham | 1871 |
| Beccles | 1994 |
| Bungay | 2090 |
| Ellough | 1074 |
| Flixton | 1762 |
| Homersfield | 981 |
| Ilketshall St Andrew | 1696 |
| Ilketshall St John | 743 |
| Ilketshall St Lawrence | 988 |
| Ilketshall St Margaret | 2093 |
| Mettingham | 1706 |
| North Cove | 1082 |
| Redisham | 733 |
| Ringsfield | 1700 |
| Shadingfield | 1370 |
| Shipmeadow | 800 |
| Sotterley | 1594 |
| South Elmham, All Saints | 1150 |
| South Elmham, St Cross | 1301 |
| South Elmham, St James | 1302 |
| South Elmham, St Margaret | 589 |
| South Elmham, St Michael | 816 |
| South Elmham, St Nicholas | 500 |
| South Elmham, St Peter | 576 |
| Weston | 1551 |
| Willingham | 890 |
| Worlingham | 1727 |
References
- ^ a b William White (1844). History, gazetteer, and directory of Suffolk. p. 410.
- ^ Walter Skeat (1913). The Place-names of Suffolk.
- ^ 1841 Census