Wilby is a village and civil parish in the Mid Suffolk district of Suffolk in eastern England located around 9 miles (14 km) south-east of Diss and 1.25 miles (2 km) south of Stradbroke along the B1118. The population of the parish at the 2001 census was 231 in 99 households.[1] The village has some basic services including a primary school and village hall.[2]

Wilby
Church of St Mary
Wilby is located in Suffolk
Wilby
Wilby
Location within Suffolk
Population231 [1]
OS grid referenceTM242721
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townEye
Postcode districtIP21
Dialling code01379
PoliceSuffolk
FireSuffolk
AmbulanceEast of England
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Suffolk
52°18′04″N 1°17′10″E / 52.301°N 1.286°E / 52.301; 1.286

The nearest villages are Brundish, Laxfield, Stradbroke and Worlingworth. Foals Green, Russel's Green, Stanway Green and Wootten Green (part) form part of the village which is dispersed in nature.

History

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The name of the village is generally believed to be derived from the Old English meaning 'Ring of Willows'.[2][3] The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book at which time it comprised seven households and formed part of the holding of William de Beaufeu, Bishop of Thetford.[4]

In 1844, White's Directories lists Thomas Corbett (Lincolnshire MP) as lord of the manor[5]

Church

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The village church is dedicated to St Mary.[6] It is medieval in origin and includes a 15th-century tower and a series of bench ends from the same century which are one of the finest collections in East Anglia.[7] The current vicar is Rev'd David Burrell who holds one Sunday service a week.[8][9] St Mary's is a Grade I listed building.[7] Newton Wilby Hall, a Grade II listed building, is a 16th-century farmhouse with an intact medieval moat.[10]

School

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The village school serves around 100 children aged 5 to 11.[11] It is currently judged as 'Good' by Ofsted and has a link to a school in Mbauro in Kenya.[12] At 11 children usually transfer to Stradbroke High School.[11]

Village hall

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The village hall, which stands on the B1118, close to the centre of the village and opposite the school, is named Coronation Hall to commemorate the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Officially opened on Saturday 28 May 1955, it was one of the first village halls in Suffolk to be made by voluntary labour.[13]

Transport

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Between 1908 and 1952 the village was served by Wilby railway station on the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway with the nearest operational railway station now at Diss.

 
T G Askews is one of the two road haulage companies based in Wilby.[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b 2001 Census profiles, Suffolk County Council. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
  2. ^ a b Welcome to Wilby's Website, Wilby Parish Council. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
  3. ^ "Onesuffolk Home". Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  4. ^ Wilby, Domesday Map. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
  5. ^ White, William (1844). History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Suffolk, and the Towns Near Its Borders. Suffolk. p. 475. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  6. ^ St Mary, Wilby, Suffolk Churches. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
  7. ^ a b Church of St Mary, Wilby, British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
  8. ^ "Parish Newsletters". GB: Wilby.onesuffolk.net. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  9. ^ "Church". GB: Wilby.onesuffolk.net. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  10. ^ Wilby Hall, Wilby, British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
  11. ^ a b Wilby CEVCP School, Suffolk County Council school profile. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
  12. ^ Ofsted letter, 2010-07-12. Retrieved 2011-04-29.
  13. ^ "The Village Hall Website". Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  14. ^ "T G Askew". Retrieved 20 May 2012.
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