POLSTEAD is a village and parish, in the union of Cosford, hundred of
Babergh, county court district of Hadleigh, rural deanery and archdeaconry
of Sudbury, and diocese of Ely, West Suffolk, 3 miles north-north-east from
Nayland, and 5 west-south-west from Hadleigh station. The church of St.
Mary, situated in Polstead Park, is a very ancient building, chiefly in the
Early Norman style of architecture, having a stone spire with 6 bells.
Earliest date of register, 1538. The living is a rectory, yearly value £880,
with residence, in the gift of St. John's College, Oxford, and held by the
Rev. James Coyte, of Caius College, Cambridge. There is a boys' and girls'
school, supported by the rector and subscriptions. A fair is held on
Polstead Green on the Wednesday after July 16; it continues for two days.
Charles Tyrell, Esq., is lord of the manor. Here is a Primitive Methodist
chapel. The population in 1861 was 922, and the area is 3,402 acres.
Parish Clerk, William Baalham.
POST OFFICE.—William Baalham, postmaster. Letters through Colchester, arrive
at 5.40 a.m.; dispatched at 7.25 p.m. Boxford is the nearest money order
office
Charity School, Miss Mary Ann Hickman, mistress
CARRIER.—William Mann, to Ipswich, monday & friday; to Sudbury, tuesday &
Saturday
Coyte Rev. James [rector]
COMMERCIAL.
Baalham Ann (Mrs.), carpenter
Baalliam Wm. shopkeeper, & post office
Barton Samuel, grocer
Bedford Thomas, wheelwright
Beeston Jonathan, shopkeeper & wheelwright
Bloomfleld John, farmer
Bouttell Phoebe (Mrs.), farmer & landowner
Cocksedge Charles,Shoulder of Mutton
Day Daniel, butcher
Day William, poulterer
Drake Thomas, blacksmith
Dyer Elizabeth (Mrs.), farmer
Eppleford Edward, beer retailer
Everett Isaac, farmer
Everett Susan (Mrs.), farmer
Everett Thomas William, farmer
Green John, farmer
Green William, farmer
Grimsey Joseph, Cock, & farmer
Groves Joseph, shoe maker
Holbrow Robert, shoe maker
Humphrey Mary (Mrs.), farmer
King John, miller
Lilley Samuel, beer retailer & grocer
Mnnn William, farmer
Mills William, farmer
Munson John, shoe maker
Richardson Joseph, shoe maker & farmer
Stow James, shoe maker
Taylor Charles Arthur, farmer
Taylor Henry, farmer
Tomkins Abraham, farmer
Tomkins — (exors. of), farmer
Tricker William, beer retailer