Sudbourne Timeline
C959-963: King Edgar gives Manor of Sudbourne to Bishop
Æthelwold in return for the Bishop’s translation of the Rule of St
Benedict into English. The Bishop grants the manor to the
Benedictine monastery at Ely.
1042: Sudbourne included in a list of lands granted to
Ely Abbey by King Edward.
1086: Sudbourne listed in the Domesday book. Gilbert of
Wissant and Walter of Caen hold land in Sudbourne, including a
church, from Robert Malet. The previous English landowner was Edric
of Laxfield. The monastery at Ely also holds land at Sudbourne
including a church.
12th century: Stone church replaces Saxon
church.
1600: Sir Michael Stanhope purchased the Manor of
Sudbourne from the Crown, including a manor house, originally known
as Chapmans, which becomes Sudbourne Hall
1621: Death of Sir Michael Stanhope. His estate passes to
his three daughters.Estate passes by marriage to Sir William
Withipole, then to sixth Viscount Hereford.
1753: Estate sold by executors of eleventh Viscount
Hereford to first Marquess of Hertford.
1784: James Wyatt re-built Sudbourne Hall for the first
Marquess of Hertford, Francis Seymour-Conway.
1835: Long Row Cottages built for estate workers at
Sudbourne Hall.
1863: Baptist Chapel built.
1871: Sir Richard Wallace purchased Sudbourne Hall from
the fifth Marquess of Hertford, having inherited a fortune from the
Fourth Marquess, his “natural” father.
1875: Sudbourne National School erected.
1878-9:Church restored, paid for by Sir Richard
Wallace.
1918: Public auction on 24 July of the Stud of Suffolk
Punches belonging to the late Mr. Kenneth Clark of Sudbourne Hall.
98 horses were sold including 17 foals.
1926: Sale of Sudbourne Hall estate.
1942: Sudbourne evacuated. The area becomes a training
ground for tanks etc. with Sudbourne Hall as the officers’ mess and
other village houses serving as army accommodation.
1948: Demobilisation. Sudbourne villagers return.
An ex-army hut becomes the village hall.
1988: Village Hall re-opened after significant extension
and renovation.