Culford


Culford is a small village about north of Bury St Edmunds and north east of London in the West Suffolk district of Suffolk, England.
The village's name is derived from Cula's Ford.
The village is mentioned as Culeforde in the charter of 1040 AD where Thurketel grants the lands to Bury St Edmunds Abbey.
The Domesday Book records the population of Culford in 1086 to be 32 households. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 620, decreasing to 578 at the 2011 Census.
The main village developed along a straight road called "The Street" and there are also some smaller residential areas in Culford, like Benyon gardens, a complex of small lanes. Most of the houses in central Culford are pre-war while those at the edges of the village are post-war and later. The village also encompasses the hamlets of Culford Heath and Chimney Mills.
Culford is home to Culford School, a public school and a member of the Methodist Schools Foundation. The school occupies a former stately home in Culford Park, rebuilt in 1796 for the Cornwallis family.
Culford's Public House, The White Hart, was closed in December 1840 by Richard Benyon, owner of the Culford Estate between 1824 and 1883, because he regarded it as "a scene of moral debauchery".
The first mention of a postal service in Culford is in July 1852, when a type of postmark known as an undated circle was issued. The post office closed in January 1990 and has since been turned into Culford Day nursery.

Population change

Governance

Culford lies in the West Suffolk District of the shire county of Suffolk. The four tiers of government & their respective representatives are:
Culford, West Stow and Wordwell Parish Councill has 7 elected members, 4 for Culford, 2 for West Stow  and 1 for Wordwell.
In terms of community planning the parish does not currently have a Parish Plan or Village Design Statement.

Notable Residents