Villages A to K

Cockfield, Suffolk

Cockfield consists of nine hamlets, eight of them called Greens, which were formerly areas of common grazing land. The church of St Peter is large and well-proportioned, with prominent tower buttresses. Much of the building is in the Decorated style, including the tower and the north aisle. The south aisle and clerestory are Perpendicular; the chancel is early 14th century. Inside are an Easter Sepulchre and the 14th century canopied tomb of a knight, both worthy of note. Adjoining the churchyard is a fine 15th century brick-and-timber cottage (above right).

Suffolk County Council estimate of population for 1996: 880.

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Cratfield, Suffolk

Cratfield is a wide parish and village, on one of the tributaries of the river Blyth. The church of St Mary is noted mainly for its very fine font, carved with representations of the Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church and the Crucifixion, and unusually tall. It dates from the 15th or early 16th century. Elsewhere is the clock-bell in an oak frame, given to the church c.1400 by Wm Aleys, and the pulpit which is dated 1617. The church itself is built of flint and is mainly Perpendicular, although originally smaller and in the Decorated style. It has a fine double-framed roof. The freestone parapet of the tower was built in 1547 from the proceeds of the sale of the church chalices, censers and crucifix. There is one brass monument to a member of the Fiske family inside the church.

Suffolk County Council estimate of population for 1996: 240.

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Dennington, Suffolk

Suffolk County Council estimate of population for 1996: 510.

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Fressingfield, Suffolk

Suffolk County Council estimate of population for 1996: 920.

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Fulbourn, Cambs.

St Vigor's Church is built of stone, mainly in the Decorated style. A second Church was built alongside at about the same time, dedicated to All Saints, and the two stood side by side for seven hundred years. The two originally served separate manors, but when All Saints collapsed in 1766 Saint Vigor's came to serve the whole village. There are a number of very old memorials and effigies.

Saint Vigor was a Christian missionary who went to live among the invading Norsemen in northern France, converted many of them to Christian faith, and became Bishop of Bayeux. He died in 537 A.D. There are only two Churches dedicated to him in England; Fulbourn and Stratton-on-the-Fosse in Somerset.

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Hadleigh, Suffolk

An ancient Suffolk market town, a regional centre for the cloth trade in the later Middle Ages and rivalled as such only by Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds. It lies along a tributary of the Stour and is considered to rival any Cotswold town for sheer physical beauty. There are many fine old buildings in and around the town. These include the Guildhall c. 1430s and the Deanery Gate-tower built in 1495. Church St and the very long High St both contain examples of well-preserved medieval buildings. St Mary's church is one of the more spacious in East Anglia, and stands in what is almost a close. It is mostly Perpendicular except for the tower, which is early 14th century, and has a lead spire 135 ft high. It was sadly over-restored by the Victorians but does have a notable late 14th century octagonal font.

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Halesworth, Suffolk

A thriving small town on a winding thoroughfare, it had a market granted in 1222. The churchyard and market-place form two interesting precincts in the centre of town, with 17th century almshouses and some other noteworthy buildings. The church of St Mary is Perpendicular with Victorian additions, it has a good tower and weathercock, and some interesting monuments and brasses inside, including one to William Fiske.

Suffolk County Council estimate of population for 1996: 4420.

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Halstead, Essex

Halstead developed over many centuries as a busy market town, standing at crossroads which evolved from tracks made by the earliest Bronze Age settlers. Later prosperity was founded on the wool trade, and from the Middle Ages wool and weaving provided the income of Halstead. Later, when the wool trade dwindled, a new lease of life was given by the Courtauld family, who came from France to settle and in 1827 founded what is now the internationally known Courtauld Company. The church of St Andrew is almost at the top of the steep High Street. It is a large building, in Decorated and Perpendicular styles, of flint with stone dressings. It was extensively altered in 1848-50, with the earlier tower being removed and the present one inserted further West, allowing the Nave to be lengthed. The earlier tower was as shown above right. The church contains a memorial plaque engraved on copper to Samuel Fiske.

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Kettlebaston, Suffolk

Kettlebaston is a rather remote village in undulating countryside. The church of St Mary the Virgin is built of flint and stone, and has a Norman nave. The south door and font are 12th century and believed to be by the same craftsman. The chancel and tower are in the Decorated style. Inside are white sloping walls, brick floors, a crown-post roof and a screened sanctuary, all beautifully kept. Some superb medieval alabasters were given to the British Museum in 1883. There are several gravestones of members of the Fiske family in a group outside the eastern end of the church.

Suffolk County Council estimate of population for 1996: 50 (down from 70 in 1971).

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