Burgh (/ˈbɜːrɡ/)[1] is a village and civil parish in the East Suffolk district of Suffolk, England, about 3.5 miles (6 km) north-west of Woodbridge.[2]

Burgh
Burgh is located in Suffolk
Burgh
Burgh
Location within Suffolk
Population182 (2011 census)
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townWoodbridge
Postcode districtIP13
List of places
UK
England
Suffolk
52°06′58″N 1°15′29″E / 52.116°N 1.258°E / 52.116; 1.258
St Botolph's, Burgh

St Botolph's church stands within a ploughed-flat iron-age enclosure - the "burgh" - near the site of a possible Roman villa that stretches towards Clopton churchyard.[3] The enclosure has been excavated, and found to date between 50 BC to 60 AD. Roman finds were also made, including some military items, and fragments of what may have been a hypocaust.[4]

The body of Saint Botolph (or Botwulf) is supposed to have been buried at his foundation of Icanho (Iken) but in 970, Edgar I of England gave permission for Botolph's remains to be transferred to a place "near Grundisburgh".[5] It is thought that probably Burgh is meant. They remained for some fifty years before being transferred to their own tomb at Bury St Edmunds Abbey, on the instructions of Cnut.

There was a church in the burgh in the middle Saxon period. The present church building dates from the 14th century and is a Grade II* listed building.[6] In the north wall is a mural painting by Anna Zinkeisen in memory of her husband Col. Guy Heseltine of c. 1967 showing birds of the Bible.

The population of Burgh is about 200, measured at 182 at the 2021 census.[7] Because of its small size, there is no parish council, and no parish rate is levied. Instead, there is a parish meeting to which all villagers are invited. This meeting occurs two or three times a year. During these meetings, residents are welcome to discuss the issues, problems, concerns and affairs of the village.

Several artists and craftsmen live and work in the village.

The neighbouring village of Grundisburgh and the towns of Woodbridge and Ipswich provide shops and all business and commercial services.

References

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  1. ^ Wells, John C. (5 March 2007). "Place names". Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  2. ^ "History of Burgh in Suffolk Coastal". Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  3. ^ An aerial photograph of the Burgh is online here: "St Edmundsbury Local History: The Iron Age and the Roman Empire, 700 BC to 410 AD". Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  4. ^ Edward Martin, Burgh: The Iron Age and Roman Enclosure. East Anglian Archaeology 40 (1988). Online here.
  5. ^ Marginal addition to the Chronicle of John of Worcester in Bodleian MS 297, via here: https://www.roger-pearse.com/weblog/2021/04/22/materials-for-an-english-translation-of-the-life-of-st-botolph-or-botwulf-bhl-1428/
  6. ^ Historic England. "CHURCH OF ST BOTOLPH (1197947)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  7. ^ "Parish population 2021". Retrieved 13 June 2024.
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