Culford
Culford is a village and civil parish about north of Bury St Edmunds and north east of London in the West Suffolk district of Suffolk, England. According to the 2011 Census the parish had a population of 578, a decrease from 620 recorded at the 2001 census. A tributary of the River Lark, known as Culford Stream, flows through the centre of the village being fed from Ampton Water in Great Livermere. It continues Westward into West Stow before joining the River Lark at Clough Staunch on the edge of Lackford Lakes. 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 cul-de-sacs. Most of the houses in central Culford date from the second half of the 1800s and were built as part of the Culford Estate while those at the edges of the village are post-war and later. The centre of the village, along with the Park, and most of West Stow is a conservation area which was established on 4 December 1997. 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. History. The village's name is derived from the words "Cula's Ford", Cula presumed to be name of local leader. The village is mentioned as "Culeforde "in the S1225 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 made up of 2 villagers, 19 freemen, 9 smallholders, and 2  slaves along with 1 cattle, 2 pigs, 85 sheep, and 14 acres of meadow. In April and May 1291 King Edward I stayed at the manor in Culford during his visit to Bury St Edmunds Abbey where he agreed that royal justices would not in future sit within the Liberty of St Edmund. In 1804 The Iron Bridge was constructed over the tributary of the River Lark, that flows through Culford Park. It was the world's first iron bridge to be constructed with hollow segments, built to the design of Samuel Wyatt, and is the only Grade I listed  structure in the parish. Culford's Public House, "The White Hart", (now known as Benyon Lodge) 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. 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.