Babergh was a hundred of Suffolk, consisting of . Its name survives in that of Babergh District, the local government district of southern Suffolk that includes the former hundred as well as those of Cosford and Samford.
It consisted of the land to the north, east and south-east of Sudbury, the hundred's largest town, and its southern boundary forms the border with Essex. The majority of the land is rural.
It was listed as Baberga in the Domesday Book of 1086, and the name is believed to mean "Mound of a man called Babba".
The name derives from Babergh Heath, an area of land around the villages of Great and Little Waldingfield. The village of Great Waldingfield is home to Babergh Hall, the ancient meeting place of the hundred.
Parishes
Babergh Hundred consisted of the following 33 parishes:1841 Census Parish Area (acres)Acton2729Alpheton1212Assington2974Boxford1802Boxted1367Brent Eleigh1625Bures St Mary2542Cavendish3393Chilton868Cockfield3626Edwardstone1872Glemsford2293Great Cornard1550Great Waldingfield2424Groton1572Hartest1964Lavenham2812Lawshall2907Little Cornard1600Little Waldingfield1700Long Melford5186Milden1332Monks Eleigh2099Nayland942Newton2198Polstead3402Preston1970Shimpling2699Somerton1040Stanstead1162Stoke-by-Nayland4600Sudbury1250Wiston1170
References