In 1870-1872, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described the parish as: ”Haveningham, or Heveningham, a village and parish in Blything district, Suffolk.”
Historic buildings
Church of St Margaret
, built in 1539, is a Perpendicular style parish church and is now a Grade I listed building.
Heveningham Hall
was built in 1778 for Sir Gerard Vanneck, a Dutch Merchant, and designed by the architect James Wyatt. His descendant Joshua Vanneck, 1st Baron Huntingfield, was raised to the peerage in 1796, and the house continued to belong to the Lords Huntingfield, until in 1970 it was accepted by the Department of the Environment in lieu of death duties. During the 1970s the house was open to the public and run by the National Trust, but it would not take over the ownership without a substantial endowment. No solution was found, the house was closed to the public, and the contents were lent to Heaton Hall in Manchester. In 1981, the house was put up for sale and bought by a rich Iraqi. Repairs were begun, but in 1984 a fire damaged the East Wing. The owner died in 1991. In 1994, the Heveningham Hall and its parkand were sold to Mr and MrsJon Hunt, and Robert Adam Architects were brought in to restore the house again. Lionel Esher has called the hallof the house "the most beautiful room in England."
Country fair
The summer fair is held annually in the grounds of Heveningham Hall and is a landmark event for the Parish, as it highlights the local rural traditions. Activities include a Sheep Show, Clay Pigeon Shooting, and a Poultry Exhibition.
Population
Around the year 1800 the population of the parish was higher than it is now, at approximately 310 people. There was a sharp decrease in the hundred years between 1850 and 1950, when the population fell from approximately 425 to 150. The decrease in population in the 19th century could be due to emigration towards urban centres due to the Industrial Revolution and undoubtedly due to both the First World War and Second World War. Since 1960, there has been a gradual increase in population, and in 2011, including Ubberston 225 people occupied the area.
Demographics
Age profile
In 2011 there were 52 people under the age of twenty-one, and approximately fifty people between the ages of 61 and 100, this created a large proportion of the population who were dependent on the working population. There were around 123 people between the ages of 20-61 considered economically active.
Ethnicity
According to the census, in 2011 Heveningham had a population of 223 people, of whom 218 described themselves as of White English/Welsh/Northern Irish/British origin, which is 97% of the total population. Of the remaining five people, four described themselves as White from outside the United Kingdom, and one claimed to be of Mixed/Multiple Ethnicity; White/Black Caribbean.
Occupations
The 1881 census shows that agriculture, including cattle rearing, was the main occupation in Heveningham. The area was once devoted to pasture, with over sixty men working in the sector. Men dominated the working population, with fifty women at the time stating they had no specific occupation. The number of people working in the domestic sector was high in 1881, partly due to Heveningham Hall, where many servants were employed. At the 2011 census, 58 women claimed to be in employment. Three were employed in the Fishing, Agriculture, and Forestry sector, and thirteen said they worked in Human Health and Social Work Activities. In contrast, 61 males claimed to be in employment in 2011. Seven worked in the Agriculture, Fishing, and forestry sector, while seven worked in construction, and six in the Professional/Scientific sector.
