Debenham - Origin of the Name...

Thredling Hundred. AS. deopan hamme - "Settlement by the river between steep banks" Depbenham (DB)

The town which suffered severely from a fire in 1744, is now little more than a large village. In Saxon times, however, it was considerably more important. The Saxon Kings of East Anglia occasionally held their court here, and tradition says that the River Deben was at that time navigable up to the town, despite the fact that it rises only one mile W at Brice's Farm. This would appear to be borne out by its place-name and the fact that an anchor was found embedded in the sand at a place called the Gulls in the last century. The church has evidence of Saxon origins and was one of two recorded here at Domesday. The Domesday Uluestuna "Wolves Farm" is now represented by Ulveston Hall beside the Deben.

From "Origins of Suffolk Place-Names" Compiled by Mel Birch ISBN 0 948134 63 1, Published by Castell Publications, which mistakenly shows Debenham as being in the "Thedwestry Hundred".

Contact Information

This is the Family History Website for Debenham in the County of Suffolk. It is maintained by Suzie Morley, who can be contacted as follows:

Telephone:

+44 (0)1449 711306

Postal address:

Sweetbrier Barn, Mill Green, Stonham Aspal, Suffolk IP14 6BZ

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suzie@debenhamfamilyhistory.org.uk

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Copyright © 2007 Debenham Family History
Last modified: Monday, 10 March 2008