This month, our village of the month is Chelsworth, situated in the beautiful Brett valley in South Suffolk, 15 miles West of Ipswich.

The village of some sixty houses stretches along about a mile of winding road and its style and beauty has been much admired over the years.

Church
The present building is mainly 14th and 15th century but a charter granted in 926 to King Edgar mentions a church in Chelsworth, and a Domesday church is first recorded in 1086. The church is completely cement rendered and has a character all of its own made even more so by the entrance being through someone’s front garden.


1870 survey
In 1870 a survey was made of the village documenting the homes and the people who lived in them. Photographs were taken of every house and cottage in the village and every resident was listed. The results were then printed and put together in a bound ledger. A copy of this ledger came into the possession of a resident of Chelsworth, who together with the information from the census of 1871 has put together a website of the families and households of Chelsworth.

Click here for a link to a website showing the information from this survey.

Chelsworth today
The village is mainly situated on the B1078 that can be quite a busy road making a walk around this village a little tricky. The villagers are very proud of their village and every year they get together for the ‘Chelsworth Open Gardens Day’ which this year celebrates its 37th year. Chelsworth is reputed to have been the first village in England to open its gardens to raise money for charity. On Sunday 26th June 2005, visitors will once again gain access to over 20 private country gardens, ranging from small cottage gardens to large grounds. For more information about Chelsworth and its open gardens visit the website at  www.chelsworth.co.uk/