Bosmere and Claydon was a hundred of Suffolk, consisting of .
The hundred is a fertile and picturesque district varying from 8 to about in length and breadth. It is bounded on the south by the Borough of Ipswich and Samford Hundred, on the west by Cosford and Stow Hundreds on the north by Hartismere and Thredling Hundreds and on the east by Carlford Hundred. It falls in the Deaneries of Bosmere and Claydon in the Archdeaconry of Suffolk and Diocese of Norwich.
Its clay soil has long been associated with agriculture, and is suited to grain production. It is crossed by the River Gipping which becomes the River Orwell at Ipswich on becoming an estuary. Its main settlement is the town of Needham Market.
The hundred's name is taken from the parish of Claydon which falls within its bounds, and Bosmere, originally "Bosa's mere", a small lake near Needham Market in the grounds of Bosmere Hall.
Parishes
Bosmere and Claydon Hundred consisted of the following 33 parishes:1841 Census Parish Area (acres)Akenham1,060Ashbocking1,383Badley1,050Barham1,800Battisford1,542Baylham1,332Bramford3,247Claydon951Coddenham2,719Creeting All Saints1,286Creeting St Mary1,441Creeting St Olave388Crowfield1,700Darmsden790Flowton495Gosbeck1,530Great Blakenham842Great Bricett916Helmingham2,438Hemingstone1,444Henley1,233Little Blakenham1,046Mickfield1,300Needham Market3,164Nettlestead1,029Offton1,530Ringshall2,116Somersham1,027Stonham Aspal2,399Stonham Earl2,521Stonham Parva1,173Swilland951Willisham1,030
References