Ballingdon
Encyclopedia
Ballingdon is a suburb of the town of Sudbury
in Suffolk
, England
. Once a separate village, today it is part of Sudbury civil parish
. It is the only part of the town to the south of the River Stour
.
The village developed adjacent to a bridge (today known as Ballingdon Bridge) over the River Stour, which dates back to at least the 13th century. It remains the only crossing of the river for several miles in each direction. Ballingdon and Brundon
(which formed the township of Ballingdon-cum-Brandon, then in Essex
) were added to the borough of Sudbury (and the county of Suffolk) in 1832 as part of the Reform Act
; at the time it had a population of 831. In 1972 the owners of Ballingdon Hall had it moved half a mile up Ballingdon Hill on the back of a large transporter; the event was watched by 10,000 people.
Ballingdon came to be home to many businesses, signs of which can be seen in the architecture of the buildings, with large shop windows and other tell-tale signs. This was because before Ballingdon became part of Suffolk
It was cheaper to open a business on the Essex
side of the river, as no levy had to be paid to Sudbury town council. By 2011 only 8 businesses reamained open outside the industrial units, just 3 of them retail outlets.
Today Ballingdon Street is a conservation area
and contains numerous listed buildings. King's Marsh Stadium, home of A.F.C. Sudbury, is located in the area.
Sudbury, Suffolk
Sudbury is a small, ancient market town in the county of Suffolk, England, on the River Stour, from Colchester and from London.-Early history:...
in Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Once a separate village, today it is part of Sudbury civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
. It is the only part of the town to the south of the River Stour
River Stour, Suffolk
The River Stour is a river in East Anglia, England. It is 76 km long and forms most of the county boundary between Suffolk to the north, and Essex to the south. It rises in eastern Cambridgeshire, passes to the east of Haverhill, through Cavendish, Sudbury and the Dedham Vale, and joins the...
.
The village developed adjacent to a bridge (today known as Ballingdon Bridge) over the River Stour, which dates back to at least the 13th century. It remains the only crossing of the river for several miles in each direction. Ballingdon and Brundon
Brundon
Brundon is a hamlet in the Babergh District, in the English county of Suffolk. It is located on the River Stour near the town of Sudbury . For transport there is the A131 road nearby.- References :...
(which formed the township of Ballingdon-cum-Brandon, then in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
) were added to the borough of Sudbury (and the county of Suffolk) in 1832 as part of the Reform Act
Reform Act 1832
The Representation of the People Act 1832 was an Act of Parliament that introduced wide-ranging changes to the electoral system of England and Wales...
; at the time it had a population of 831. In 1972 the owners of Ballingdon Hall had it moved half a mile up Ballingdon Hill on the back of a large transporter; the event was watched by 10,000 people.
Ballingdon came to be home to many businesses, signs of which can be seen in the architecture of the buildings, with large shop windows and other tell-tale signs. This was because before Ballingdon became part of Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
It was cheaper to open a business on the Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
side of the river, as no levy had to be paid to Sudbury town council. By 2011 only 8 businesses reamained open outside the industrial units, just 3 of them retail outlets.
Today Ballingdon Street is a conservation area
Conservation area
A conservation areas is a tract of land that has been awarded protected status in order to ensure that natural features, cultural heritage or biota are safeguarded...
and contains numerous listed buildings. King's Marsh Stadium, home of A.F.C. Sudbury, is located in the area.
External links
- Several photos of Ballingdon past Sudbury Museum Trust