Fressingfield
| Fressingfield | |
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 Fressingfield Village Sign |
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 Fressingfield
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| Fressingfield shown within Suffolk | |
| Population | 1,021 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | TM247776 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | EYE |
| Postcode district | IP21 |
| Dialling code | 01379 |
| Police | Suffolk |
| Fire | Suffolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament | |
Fressingfield is a village in Suffolk, England, 12 miles (19 km) east of Diss, Norfolk. It has a population of over 900, with two shops, a medical centre, public house, restaurant, primary school, and three churches, with Anglican, Baptist and Methodist congregations. A vineyard, Oak Hill Wines, is also located nearby.
The parish of Fressingfield contains 4,618 acres (18.69 km2). Of the more than 500 parishes in Suffolk, Fressingfield is the 16th largest.
A Roman Road 15 miles (24 km) long, from Pulham St Mary to Peasenhall, passes through the parish of Fressingfield. Its route is recognisable as the present B1116 passing through Weybread ("Weybread Straight"). At the present-day Gooch's Farm, however, an early medieval diversion takes traffic into Fressingfield.
Fessefelda [sic] as it was spelt, or perhaps misspelt, at the time, was first documented in the Domesday Book (1086). Later variants of the spelling have included Frisingfeld (1185), and Freshingfield (17th century).
Fressingfield is an Old English name. It appears to have been initially *Frisa/Fyrs/Fyrsen + inga ("people) + feld ("field"). The original meaning of the prefix is unclear and there are two theories about it:
The Church of St Peter & St Paul was constructed from the early 14th to late 15th centuries. The belfry hangs a ring of eight bells with the tenor weighing 17-0-20 cwt (872.67 kg).
In the late 16th century, the Norwich-born playwright Robert Greene named a character, "Margaret, the Fair Maid of Fressingfield" in his play Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay.
A Guildhall was built the Elizabethan era. (Still standing, it serves as a restaurant.)
The peak population of 1,491 people was recorded by the 1851 Census.
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Wikipedia