Chelsworth

Coordinates: 52°05′42″N 0°53′24″E / 52.095°N 0.890°E / 52.095; 0.890

Chelsworth
All Saints Church, Chelsworth
Chelsworth  Chelsworth shown within Suffolk
Population	146 (2001)
OS grid reference	TL9847
District	Babergh
Shire county	Suffolk
Region	East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Hadleigh
Postcode district	IP5
EU Parliament	East of England
List of places: UK • England • Suffolk

Chelsworth is a village and civil parish in Suffolk, England. Located on the B1115 road, 10miles either way between Sudbury and Stowmarket. It is part of Babergh district. The parish also contains the hamlet of Chelsworth Common.

Built on the north bank of the River Brett, the entire village is classified as a conservation area, and contains numerous listed buildings.

Saxons called the area Ceorleswyrthe. Recorded in Domesday as "Cerleswrda". Also be listed historically as Cheilesworth.

History

Chelsworth has been settled for at least 1,000 years, as there are documents recording that King Edgar gave the village to Queen Æthelflæd in 962.

An old church stood in the village as far back as a 926 as mentioned in a charter to King Edgar, and a Domesday church was first recorded in 1086.

All Saints, the present church building in the west of the village, is mainly 14th and 15th century and is completely cement rendered. It has an entrance through someone’s front garden, so many churches must have been like this, but they've all had their access rerouted along driveways.

The manor anciently belonged to the Howards, and afterwards to the family of De Vere. In 1737 it became, by purchase, the property of Robert Pocklington, Esq., who erected Chelsworth House. Chelsworth House is situated 300 metres further south from the bridge and Chelsworth Park and Common further out still.

A narrow hump-backed bridge to the south, part of which dates from 1754, crosses the river.

Charles Peck, the only one of its sons lost to the horror of the First World War, was 19 when he died in September 1917, was remembered by a little war memorial.

The Grange was close to the church.

Present day

Peacock Inn, been in existence over 400 years, is on the B1115 in the centre of the village and up to 1976 was the village shop as well.

‘Chelsworth Open Gardens Day’, which has been held for over 40 years usually in June, is held in various village gardens.

Church farm is to the north-east of the village.

External links

• Chelsworth Walk
• Village website
• Chelsworth One Suffolk
• Census 1871
• Church
• National Gazetteer
• Doom restoration at church
• Timber Holiday Home