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Woodbridge in the
Loes hundred
Woodbridge 1844 Whites Directory
part one ;
part two ;
part three
WOODBRIDGE, a thriving and well-built market-town and port, is pleasanUy
situated on the western bank of the Deben, about 9 miles above the mouth of that
broad river, 8 miles E.N.E. of Ipswich, 11 miles W
of Orford, 13 miles S.W. of
Saxmundham, 11 miles S. of Framlmgham, and 77 miles N.E. of London. Its
population amounted, in 1801, to 3020 ; in 1811, to 4332; in 1821, to 4060; in
1831, to 4768 ; and in 1841, to 4952 souls, including 35 in the small hamlet and
manor of Kingston. Its PARISH comprises about 1650 acres of fertile land,
forming a detached member of Loes Hundred, from which it is separated hy Wilford
Hundred. It gives name to the Woodbridge Union and Superintendent Registrar's
District, which has its Boardroom and principal officers here, but its Workhouse
at Nacton, 8 miles from the town. It is a polling place at the election of the
parliamentary representatives of the Eastern Division of Suffolk, and may be
considered the capital of the Liberty of St. Ethelred, which comprises the
neighbouring Hundreds of Loes, Colneis, Carlford, Wilford, Plomesgate, and
Thredling, commonly called the Woodbridge Division, for which QUARTER SESSIONS
are held here, in January, April, June, and October ; and Petty Session every
Wednesday. Rollo Rouse, Esq., is lord of the manor of Woodbridge, but a great
part of the parish is in two other manors, one of which, called Kingston,
belongs to the Dean and Chapter of Ely. Here are many small copyholds and
freeholds. In Domesday Book, this town is called Udebryge, of which its present
name is no doubt a corruption ; though some writers have asserted that it
derived its name
from a wooden bridge, built over a hollow way between two parks, near
the road to Ipswich, where, in Kirby's time, there was a house called Dry
Bridge. On the south side of the church, formerly stood a PRIORY of Augustine
canons, founded by Sir Hugh Roue, or Rufus, and endowed with the church, one of
the manors of Woodbridge, and many other possessions. It stood near the house
now called the Abbey, and within it were interred many individuals of the
knightly families of Rouse, Breos or Brews, and Weyland. On its dissolution, in
the 33rd of Henry VIII., it was valued at .�50. 3s. 5d. per annum, and was
granted, with the advowson of the church, to John Wingfield, and Dorothy his
wife, in special tail male ; and on his death without issue, it was granted in
fee to Thomas Seckford, Esq., the founder of the richly endowed almshouses here.
In his family it remained till 1673, when it passed, by the will of Mrs. Dorothy
Seckford, into the family of the Norths, of Laxford, from whom it passed to the
Carthews. After the decease of the Rev. Thomas Carthew, in 1791, the Priory
estate was divided and sold, at which time, the mansion called the Abbey, was
purchased by Francis Brook, Esq., of Ufford, and it is now the property of C. S.
Sharpe, Esq.; but the family of Carthew still has a residence here. In 1666,
Woodbridge was visited by the plague, which carried off the minister, his wife
and child, and upwards of 300 of the inhabitants.
The parish of Melton forms a handsome suburb of Woodbridge,
and in it is situated Suffolk Lunatic Asylum. The Town has been much improved during the last twenty years by the formation of several new streets, and the
erection of many neat houses, and several handsome public buildings. The
eminence on which it stands commands a pleasant view down the broad river Deben,
which falls into the sea at the distance of nine miles, and is navigable for
vessels of 120 tons burthen up to the town, where there are two commodious
quays, extensive warehouses, and a ship-yard with a patent slip. The principal
street, called the Thoroughfare, is nearly a mile in length, and the Market
place is spacious, and has in its centre a SHIRE-HALL, built in the reign of
Elizabeth, in which the Sessions are held ; but the prisoners are sent to the
House of Correction at Ipswich, the old Bridewell here being now only used as a
police station, and a place of temporary confinement, though in 1835 it bad many
prisoners, crowded together without any classification of the sexes, and having
only one day room, eleven feet by eight. The number confined here, for various
periods in that year, was 140. The cross streets
though some of them are narrow, contain many good houses, and are
well paved ; and lighted from Gas Works, established in 1815, at the
cost of about �6000, and now belonging to six shareholders. The
town is well supplied with water, and the eminence on which it stands
is remarkably healthy, and surrounded by pleasant walks, commanding fine views
of the Deben, on which a numerous Yacht Club hold sailing
and rowing matches frequently ; and in July there is a grand Regatta,
terminated by fireworks and festivities in the evening. The MARKET,
held every Wednesday, is extensively supplied with corn and cattle;
and here are two annual FAIRS, viz., on the first Tuesday in April, for
cattle, horses, &c. ; and October 2nd and 3rd, for toys and pleasure. R. N.
Shawe, Esq., is chairman, and Mr. J. Wood, jun., secretary of
the Woodbridge Farmers' Club, which has a numerous list of members.
The want of a covered market place has long been felt, and the
erection of one is now (August, 1843) in contemplation. Salt was
formerly made here, and ships of war, of small magnitude, were built
here about seventy years ago ; but one of the docks, then in use below
the Common Quay, has been filled up. During the late war, there
were barracks for about 6000 soldiers, about a mile from the town,
near the Ipswich road. Two Ferry Boats cross the river to Sutton,
and at Melton, about a mile above the town, is a new quay. The commerce
of Woodbridge has much increased of late years, and there are
now belonging to the port about 50 vessels, having an aggregate burden
of about 3000 tons. The number of coasting vessels, which arrive
and sail with cargoes, is about 350 yearly, and their aggregate burden
from 15,000 to 20,000 tons; and from 10 to 15 foreign cargoes
arrive yearly. The exports consist chiefly of corn, flour, and malt;
there being in the town extensive granaries, and several mills and malt
kilns. The imports are chiefly coal, timber, wine, spirits, groceries,
drapery, and iron wares. Here are bonded warehouses for timber,
wood goods, wines, and spirits ; and the merchants trade regularly with
London, Newcastle, Hull, Liverpool, and occasionally with the continent
of Europe, and the Baltic. The Customs collected here in 1834,
amounted to �2263, and in 1840 to �4315. The CUSTOM HOUSE is in
Quay lane, and the officers are Percy Lee, Esq., collector ; Mr. W.
Gross, comptroller ; and Mr. J. Woodrow, locker and tide waiter.
Lieut. J. Holbrook, R.N., is chief officer of the coastguard. The
EXCISE OFFICE is at the Crown Tavern, hut the port is in the Ipswich
collection. Mr. J. H. Halls is the supervisor and
port surveyor. Mr. Merry and G. Phillips are division officers and
permit writers, and Mr. Wm. Law is riding officer. Fifty years ago,
only one daily coach and a weekly waggon passed through the town
to and from London ; but more than twelve conveyances (coaches,
omnibuses, and carriers' waggons and carts) now pass daily between
the hours of six in the morning and twelve at noon ; and persons may
travel from Woodbridge to London in five hours, for 10s., instead of
paying three times that amount, and being thirteen hours on the road,
as was formerly the case.
Woodbridge Public Houses
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