Woodbridge

Introduction

The settlement origin dates back to the early-Saxon period when it was called Woden burh or brigg (meaning Woden's town). It was recorded in Domesday variously as "Wudebrige", "Udebryge", "Wudebryge", "Wdebride", "Udebriga", "Udebrige" and "Wiebrige". A 12th century priory of Augustinian Canons was granted a market by Henry II in 1227 (or 1234)

As all rights and tolls of the early market belonged to the Lord of the Manor, no inn could then be erected without his sanction and some of the earliest town inns (such as the King's Head) probably date from about this time.

The Little Drummer Boy (formally called "Drums to the Fore and Aft") is a rare Boer War memorial, which was moved from Melton Hill to its present location in the Town Square in March 2018. See the gallery.

Prosperity of the 15th century town is still reflected in St Mary's parish church with it's fine north porch tower over 100 feet high. Thomas Seckford was a local lawyer from Seckford Hall who was granted the manor of Woodbridge for £764-6s-4d and left endowments to the town which have manifested themselves as local almshouses for the poor and a hospital…

Gallery

Acknowledgements

Much assistance has also been given by reference to a town pub booklet written by David Hague and which also includes extracts from Booth's Almanac of 1899.