Cosford Hundred

"COSFORD, a district and a hundred, around Hadleigh, in the SW of Suffolk. The district comprehends the sub-district of Hadleigh, containing the parishes of Hadleigh, Aldham, Elmsett, Naughton, Layham, Polstead, Boxford, Groton, Edwardstone, Lindsey, Kersey, Semer, and Whatfield; and the sub-district of Lavenham, containing the parishes of Lavenham, Brent-Eleigh, Monks-Eleigh, Milden, Chelsworth, Nedging., Cockfield, Thorpe-Morieux, Brettenham, Wattisham, Hitcham, Bildeston, Kettlebaston, and Preston.

Acres, 52, 696. Poor-rates in 1862, £10, 500. Pop. in 1841, 18, 238; in 1861, 17, 376. Houses, 3, 882. Marriages in 1860, 125; births, 571, -of which 51 were illegitimate; deaths, 334, -of which 93 were at ages under 5 years, and 15 at ages above 85. Marriages in the ten years 1851-60, 1, 304; births, 5, 640; deaths, 3, 486. The places of worship in 1851 were 29 of the Church of England, with 9, 302 sittings; 11 of Independents, with 3, 330 s.; 6 of Baptists, with 1, 414 s.; 3 of Wesleyan Methodists, with 260 s.; 6 of Primitive Methodists, with 688 s.; and 1 of Latter Day Saints, with 120 s. The schools were 28 public day schools, with 1,862 scholars; 37 private day schools, with 785 s.; 31 Sunday schools, with 2, 250 s.; and 2 evening schools for adults, with 38 s. The workhouse is in Semer. The hundred is less than the district by eleven parishes; but is otherwise identical. Acres, 30, 532. Pop., 10, 404. Houses, 2, 273."

(From John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72).)

Civil Registration

In 1836, White's Description of the Poor Law Unions and Registration Districts shows this Hundred to be served by the Registration District(s) of

See also Suffolk Registration Districts.

COSFORD RD in 1836 - 28 Parishes comprising 18 parishes of Cosford Hundred and 10 parishes of Babergh Hundred, namely Boxford which includes Hadleigh Hamlet, Brent Eleigh, Cockfield, Edwardstone, Groton, Lavenham, Milden, Monks Eleigh, Polsted and Preston. It is divided into 2 sub-districts:- Hadleigh and Lavenham.

Historical Geography

See Vision of Britain for a description of Cosford through time.

Poor Houses, Poor Law

The Workhouse site has an interesting description of Cosford Workhouse.

This is a placeholder page which will be subsequently developed.