Welcome to Kettleburgh

What is the Scope of this Website?

This website provides information of all sorts relevant to the Village and Community of Kettleburgh.  It is run for the village by the Parish Clerk with permission of the Parish Council.  Parish Council matters are restricted to and clearly set out in that section of the site.   If you are reading this and represent a new local event or community organisation, please contact the Clerk to take your place here. 

The map to the left (or below if you're viewing on a mobile) will show you Google's^TM view of the village boundary.  But if you ask it nicely, Google Maps^TM will also show you the formal Parish Boundary.  The formal Settlement Boundary for development planning purposes is set by the Suffolk Coastal (Now East) Local Plan.

What can you tell me about Kettleburgh?

On the banks of the River Deben in rolling, largely arable and wooded countryside, Kettleburgh is a village of just over one hundred dwellings.  In 2021 the population was 258, there were 44 people per km2, and the mean age was 45.3. 

Our near neighbours are Easton, Brandeston and Hoo.  Our neighbouring large town is Framlingham, with Wickham Market and Woodbridge also near to hand.  For now you can find more detailed information at BritainExpress.com.  In due course this our own site will provide detailed historic information. 

The village was it seems recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 variously as Ceteltbirig, Chetelbiria, Kettleberga, Ketelbere, Ketlesbirig and Ketelbiria.  The variations of the second part of the name seem to refer to a mound or burial place, the first part (k and c were interchangeable) to a kettle or cauldron.  'Borg' 'burg' or 'burgh' would have been the expected predecessor of 'burgh' or 'borough', so is the current village name true to its origins - can you help?

The Kettleburgh Man depicted on the village sign, surveying the fields and with axe in hand, appears to be clothed in the manner of the 9th or 10th Centuries.  At that time the area that is now Suffolk was part of the Danelaw, but the people were of mixed origin - Angles, Saxons, and earlier Romano-British people. 

The distinctive leg fillets were called hose-bendas or scanc-bendas and were worn for active pursuits.  Our man may be of greater than peasant status as he is wearing hose or leggings under his tunic. 

Interestingly this picture differs in several respects from the photographs of 2007 and 2008 included on the Geograph website.  Does anyone know the history of the sign? Please get in touch!

St Andrew's Church is picturesquely situated at the North of the village.  There was a saxon manor north of the site. There is an interesting review of the church on the Suffolk Churches website - "You step into a space...with a sense of continuity, and of being at the heart of a faith community."  "...a good example of a rural Suffolk medieval parish church, with a sense of its past, a seemliness about its present..."  

It is listed Grade I under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest, ref.1283194 and is situated at Grid ref. TM 26498 60626. 

For details of the church's architecture and contents, please refer to the Historic England website.  There is limited information in the Church Heritage Record, (ref. 633451) so if you are knowledgeable about St. Andrews, you could make a helpful contribution.  There are details of activities and worship on our St. Andrews' page and on 'a church NEAR YOU'.

The Chequers Inn (pub/food/accommodation) can be found on the Brandeston to Easton Road, with a garden that extends to the river.

The Village Hall is situated in The Street and provides a meeting place and venue for all kinds of events.  It is managed by the Village Hall Committee.

There are two open spaces:

The Village Pound, of ancient origin, is now a tranquil tree filled area close to the river. You can reach the Pound from Mill Lane and from the footpath which leads away from the pub garden at the bottom of the Chequers car park.  It is owned and managed by the Parish Council following a Commons Registration Authority decision.  The Pound now has its own page, containing more detail.

The Village Green, created in 2005, lies in the centre of the village and can be reached from the footpath opposite the Village Hall and from Church Road. It is managed by the Kettleburgh Green Trust.

For bus and rail, and all other services serving the village, look at the Community Services page.

The BBC site has a great set of articles on the latest news