Wangford Village
Wangford is a small village some three miles inland from the very popular and re-nowned coastal town of Southwold, in the county of Suffolk, England. Wangford is in the region of East Anglia, approximately 100 miles north-east of London.
The small village of approximately 150 houses is on the important A.12 trunk road. The name of the village is derived from the River Wang, which is a corruption of Wain, the old word for wagon. The tributary was always forded near the location of the present bridge, before the London to Great Yarmouth coach route was diverted from passing in front of Henham Hall to the present A.12 road passing through Henham. At the same time the river was also re-routed on a straight course to the old iron bridge of 1843, where the present bridge is now. The parish boundary between the villages of Henham and Wangford remains along the original river course, which is now only a ditch.
Others report that Wangford is derived from "Wang", a Saxon word for an ‘open field’. The name suggests a river crossing by an open field, possibly where four roads join the A.12, to cross the River Wang.
The village is mentioned in the Doomsday Book. In 1513 after Edmund de la Pole, the 3rd Duke of Suffolk, 6th Earl of Suffolk (1471-1513) was executed by Henry III and Henham (which also included Wangford village) was granted to Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk (1484 – 1545).
The village is smaller and quieter than it once used to be. Law enforcement was locally controlled from its own court, reputedly in the public house. The village once had six public houses. The Angel Inn in the High Street is an old coaching house, as was White Lion House and were a regular stop for coaches travelling between London and Great Yarmouth. The service is reported to have started with the Lord Nelson coach service in 1807. The High Street, Church Street and Norfolk Road were full of shops and pubs.
The village was bypassed in 1977, to the great relief of all living in the village and especially the narrow High Street, which had become very busy and congested. The dual carriageway now runs to the west of the village, relieving the congestion through the village centre.
Today the village is very different, but remains vibrant with a tight-knit village community. The centre of the village is the dominant Church, dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul, being the Church of a former Cluniac Priory. The Church was derelict at the end of the 19th Century and was renovated by the Earl of Stradbroke. A full informative history is given in our "Guide for visitors" on this site. The Community Centre in Millfields, in the centre of the village provides excellent accommodation for all types of functions and is available to rent. It offers as large hall, bar, committee room, kitchen and stores to cater for all types of functions. The Centre has ample parking and sits in grounds which include a hard floodlit tennis court, playing fields, children and toddlers play areas and many allotments rented by villagers. Other valuable facilities include a well stocked shop, Farm Shop, veterinary service, dog grooming parlour and surgery.
It is believed that Wangford provided the inspiration for the stage name of Sam Hutt, a London doctor, who specialises in country and Western music. His name is Hank Wangford. See www.hankwangford.com for more details.
Ordnance Survey Grid Reference: TM465795
County Council: Suffolk County Council
District Council: Waveney District Council
Post Town: Beccles
Post Code: NR34
