Stratford St Andrew
| Stratford St Andrew | |
|---|---|
 Stratford St Andrew
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| Stratford St Andrew shown within Suffolk | |
| Population | 185 (2011) |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Saxmundham |
| Postcode district | IP17 |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
Stratford St Andrew is a small village and a civil parish just off the A12 road, in the Suffolk Coastal District, in the English county of Suffolk. It is located 3 miles south west of Saxmundham, which is the nearest town to the village.
It had a population of 185 according to the 2011 census.
Stratford St Andrew has the origins of its name traced back to a combination of Anglican and Old English. It translates as, 'Ford on a Roman road', with this being a later affix from the church dedication.
In the Domesday book of 1086, Stratford St Andrew was situated in the Plomesgate district, under the ownership of Walter Giffard, whom was recorded as the Tenant-in-chief. The value of the land to the Lord, Ralph of Lanquetot, was said to be £2.4. The village was recorded as having 25 households, containing 5 smallholders and 13.5 free men. The Domesday records also state that there was a 4-acre meadow, along with a single mill. In terms of livestock it is reported that there were 2 cattle, 15 pigs, 30 sheep and 27 goats in 1086.
Stratford St Andrew was given its name because Suffolk has two Stratfords. The other Stratford, titled Stratford St Mary, is located 30 miles down the A12 and is of no direct relation. In the 1870s, Stratford St Andrew was described as:
Up until the early 21st century, the village had a church, this church representing the Church of England faith. However, in 1992, the church was declared redundant. The church was first noted as being run down in the 1970s, when it was described as:
It was also described as having smashed windows, rusty hooks and an old open chest simply abandoned on the floor. The vestry door was said to be hanging off on its hinges.
The church had been founded in 1692 and was dedicated to St. Andrew. Ranulph do Glanville, the famous justiciary of England during the reign of Henry II, was born in Stratford St Andrew.
The village sign for Stratford St Andrew shows the mill, of which little now remains. Whilst the black swan, which can be seen on the sign, is a reminder of a coaching inn, named the 'Black Swan'. This inn no longer exists. The coat of arms for the village reads:
This translates as 'doing rightly, be confident.'
Since 1801, the total population of Stratford St Andrew has gradually declined from 203, to 185 in 2011. 1821 saw the village reach its peak total population with 213 inhabitants. In contrast, 1961 saw the lowest total population for the village, with 158 recorded inhabitants. Despite the decline in total population, the number of houses in the village has increased. In 1831, when the total population was 200, the number of houses was recorded as 24. By 1961, there were 58 households, even though the total population was at its recorded lowest, 158. The most recent census data in 2011, reports that there are now 78 households in the village, 43% of which are owned outright. The reasoning behind the increase in households may be partially explained by the increase in area of Stratford St Andrew. In 1831 the total area was 300 acres, however 60 years later in 1891, the village was 800 acres large. This increase in land would allow more room for houses to be built, thus partially explaining why there is an increase in the recorded number of households.
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