YOXFORD was declared in Whites Directory of 1844 to be a large and remarkably neat and pleasant village, seated in a fertile vale, sometimes called “The Garden of Suffolk”. So we were described in 1844, and from Roman times it is easy to see why Yoxford became an important settlement. Nestled as it is in a rich, fertile valley with the river Yox (or Minsmere) running through its basin, the Roman roads round about would certainly point to a farm or two on this profitable soil.

The Domesday book certainly records manors and smallholdings farmed by groups of freemen; and it is interesting that the Cistercian monks founded their Abbey at close‑by Sibton, continuing their tradition of building in beautiful landscapes, and diverting the Yox to flow through their buildings. These very skilful farmers and providers of food to the local poor and needy would build where the ground was fertile and easy to till, thus providing greater rewards with their efforts. So along the valley the pretty village of Yoxford built up from the original settlements ‑ with its big houses providing work for gardeners and farm workers, each housed in the village along with the tradesmen. All cottages had gardens, and after paid work was done for the day they would turn to their own gardens and allotments not only to feed their families but also a certain amount of competitive spirit would be found amongst the villagers, often culminating in a produce and flower show.

Yoxford High Street today still is the central feature of the parish, broad and lined with a delightful variety of houses, cottages and small business premises, all beautifully kept with gardens to be proud of. A small park, and almost in the middle, the Church of St Peter, kept and cared for with love over the centuries by its parishioners. Bounded on all sides by well‑farmed land, from the greens and bright yellow of springtime, golden harvests and rich brown furrows Yoxford rightly still holds the title of 'Garden of Suffolk'.

Situated in the heart of Suffolk, with the A12 trunk road from Great Yarmouth to London (the old coaching route) running through one side of the village, roads to Stowmarket to the west, and Aldeburgh, Leiston, Dunwich, Walberswick and Southwold to the east, Yoxford is well placed to be a base for exploration of the Suffolk Heritage Coast. It is easily accessible by public transport; Eastern Counties Bus Company has a two ­hourly service each way from Ipswich to Lowestoft; the nearest train station is at Darsham, connecting for Norwich, Ipswich and London. By road from the North and Midlands we are well served by the A1120 accessing the A14.

Yoxford is surrounded by parkland. Towards Peasenhall is Sibton Park, with a large well‑stocked fishing lake. In the village is Grove Park, once the home of the Davy family ‑ the noted historian David Elisha Davy has his memorial in the Church; Rookery Park on the Leiston road, the home of the Hambling family; and Cockfield Hall manor house of Yoxford Manor since medieval times.

In 1785 the main Ipswich to Great Yarmouth turnpike was opened, and this in turn opened up Yoxford for passing trade. The previous small village grew to a population of 1272 in the busy times of 1851, with trades in the village including farriers, coach builders, a fishmonger, a corn miller, a dyer, five academies, three bakers, a basket maker, two blacksmiths, a bookseller, nine shoemakers, three butchers, a cooper, a druggist, a carrier, fourteen farmers, three grocers and drapers, a hairdresser, four builders, four milliners, a saddler, three surgeons, six tailors, four watchmakers, a gunsmith, four wheelwrights and a stay maker.

Many men were employed on the land on the large estates. There were several alehouses in the village at various times; the Maid's Head now a private house, the Fife and Drum, originally a manor house of Murriells Manor, now the site of a private house, the New Inn, now the Blois Arms, the King's Head, the Griffin, and the biggest and most impressive, the Three Tuns . This large Coaching Inn was situated opposite the Church, and had a large assembly room, dining and sitting rooms, bars and 20 letting beds, extensive cellars, stalls for 40 horses, coach houses and granaries.

The Magistrates held court here. Tragically it burnt to the ground in 1925; part of the site is now occupied by a private house and the garage.
The railway came to Yoxford in 1858 with the station at Darsham, and communications and travel became easier. Gradually the road and coaching trade waned, the farm work on the big estates became mechanised; people moved away to find work elsewhere, and today Yoxford has a population of just under 1,000 with three public houses and the trades described elsewhere in this website. (with acknowledgements to the Parish Booklet).

                                    Click here to read a brief history of Yoxford