Semer, Suffolk

Village in Suffolk, England

Human settlement in England

Semer

All Saints Church

Semer

Location within Suffolk

Population| 130 (population of the whole parish in 2011)[1]
District|

* Babergh

Shire county|

* Suffolk

Region|

* East

Country| England
Sovereign state| United Kingdom
Post town| Ipswich
Postcode district| IP7
UK Parliament|

* South Suffolk

List of places

England
Suffolk

52°04′52″N 0°55′05″E﻿ / ﻿52.081°N 0.918°E﻿ / 52.081; 0.918
Signpost in Semer

Semer is a small village and civil parish in Suffolk, England.[2] Located adjacent to a bridge over the River Brett on the B1115 between Hadleigh and Stowmarket, it is part of Babergh district. The parish also contains the hamlets of Ash Street and Drakestone Green.

The parish was recorded in the 2011 census as having a population of 130, down from 158 in the previous census.[1]

## History

[edit]

The name Semer is derived from the Old English elements "sǣ" (lake or sea) and "mere" (pool or lake).[3] As the name therefore means "lake pool", it may be that the mere element was added at a later date.[3]

Semer is recorded in the Domesday Book as belonging to Bury St Edmunds Abbey in both 1066 and 1086.[4] The abbey acted as both Lord of the Manor and Tenant-in-chief.[4] It is recorded as home to 20 households: six villagers, 13 small holders and one slave.[4] It is recorded as having enough ploughland for 3 lord's plough teams and 3 men's plough teams; and the village also had 12 acres (4.9 ha) of meadow, a mill, a church, 0.25 acres (0.10 ha) of church land, 16 cattle, 2 cobs, 24 pigs and 97 sheep.[4]

In 1086 the village is valued as worth £6 a year to its lord, the Abbey, a £1 increase on its value in 1066.[4] Its taxable value is recorded as 3.8 geld units and 2.5 villtax.[4]

## All Saints Church

[edit]

The small church is set a few hundred yards off of a minor road across a meadow beside the River Brett, It is almost entirely Victorianised with a chancel that was rebuilt in 1870. One notable feature of the graveyard, to the east of the church, is a marble Edwardian angel scattering roses.[5]

The church has a plain square-cut font which is thought to be 14th-century, as is the nave. There is also a Royal Arms of King George III, painted before the union with Ireland.[6] The church has been a Grade II listed building since 10 July 1980.[7]

## Hamlets

[edit]

### Ash Street

[edit]

"Ash Street" redirects here. For the street in Tacoma, Washington, United States, see Ash Street shootout.

The small hamlet of Ash Street is centred approximately 0.5 miles (1 km) east of Semer church; it is located to the north of a bridge over the River Brett.

Ash Street is recorded in the Domesday Book as a very small settlement of just five smallholders, with 6 acres (2.4 ha) of meadow and a mill; the hamlet had a taxable value of 1.5 geld units.[8] Prior to the Norman Conquest of 1066, the hamlet was owned by an unnamed "Free Woman".[8] After the Conquest it is recorded as under the Lordship of William the Conqueror's half-brother, Robert, Count of Mortain.[8]

### Drakestone Green

[edit]

The small hamlet of Drakestone Green is centred approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Semer church.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Semer: Key Statistics". 2011 Census. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
2. ^ Kelly, E. R., ed. (1875). "SEMER". The Post Office Directory of Cambridge, Norfolk and Suffolk. London: Kelly & Co. p. 907.
3. ^ a b "Key to English Place-names: Semer". kepn.nottingham.ac.uk. Retrieved 21 January 2025.
4. ^ a b c d e f "Semer". Domesday Map. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
5. ^ "Suffolk Churches". www.suffolkchurches.co.uk.
6. ^ "About us - Semer, All Saints - A Church Near You". www.achurchnearyou.com.
7. ^ "CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS, Semer - 1351576 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk.
8. ^ a b c "Ash Street". Domesday Map. Retrieved 25 April 2013.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Semer at Wikimedia Commons
* Ash [Street] in the Domesday Book

* v
* t
* e

Babergh

Towns|

* Sudbury
* Hadleigh

Civil parishes (current)|

* Acton
* Aldham
* Alpheton
* Arwarton
* Assington
* Belstead
* Bentley
* Bildeston
* Boxford
* Boxted
* Brantham
* Brent Eleigh
* Brettenham
* Bures St Mary
* Burstall
* Capel St Mary
* Chattisham
* Chelmondiston
* Chelsworth
* Chilton
* Cockfield
* Copdock and Washbrook
* East Bergholt
* Edwardstone
* Elmsett
* Freston
* Glemsford
* Great Cornard
* Great Waldingfield
* Groton
* Hadleigh (town)
* Harkstead
* Hartest
* Higham
* Hintlesham
* Hitcham
* Holbrook
* Holton St Mary
* Kersey
* Kettlebaston
* Lavenham
* Lawshall
* Layham
* Leavenheath
* Lindsey
* Little Cornard
* Little Waldingfield
* Long Melford
* Milden
* Monks Eleigh
* Nayland-with-Wissington
* Nedging-with-Naughton
* Newton
* Pinewood
* Polstead
* Preston St Mary
* Raydon
* Semer
* Shelley
* Shimpling
* Shotley
* Somerton
* Sproughton
* Stanstead
* Stoke-by-Nayland
* Stratford St. Mary
* Stutton
* Sudbury (town)
* Tattingstone
* Thorpe Morieux
* Wattisham
* Wenham Magna
* Wenham Parva
* Whatfield
* Wherstead
* Woolverstone

Civil parishes (former)|

* Ballingdon
* Copdock
* Hadleigh Hamlet
* Naughton
* Nayland
* Nedging
* Sudbury All Saints
* Sudbury St Bartholomew
* Sudbury St Gregory
* Sudbury St Peter
* Washbrook
* Wissington

Other settlements|

* Ash Street
* Brundon
* Bures
* Bury Road
* Drakestone Green
* Erwarton
* Fenstead End
* Flatford
* Hagmore Green
* Hanningfield Green
* Harrow Green
* Hart's Green
* Hibb's Green
* Lambs Lane
* Lawshall Green
* Little Wenham
* Lower Layham
* Nedging Tye
* Oldhall Green
* Pin Mill
* Rooksey Green
* Shotley Gate
* The Street
* Thorington Street
* Upper Layham
* Windsor Green
* Withermarsh Green

Buildings|

* Abbas Hall
* Bridge Cottage
* St Mary's Church, Chilton
* Coldham Cottage
* Flatford Mill
* Freston Tower
* Gainsborough's House
* Giffords Hall
* Kentwell Hall
* Kersey Priory
* St Peter and St Paul's Church, Lavenham
* Lavenham Guildhall
* Lavenham Priory
* Lavenham Wool Hall
* All Saints' Church, Lawshall
* Lawshall Hall
* St James' Chapel, Lindsey
* All Saints Church, Little Wenham
* Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford
* Melford Hall
* Milden Castle
* All Saints Church, Newton Green
* Smallbridge Hall
* St Mary's Church, Stoke-by-Nayland
* St Gregory's Church, Sudbury
* St Peter's Church, Sudbury
* Tattingstone Wonder
* Thorington Hall
* St Mary's Church, Washbrook
* Wattisham Strict Baptist Chapel
* Willy Lott's Cottage
* Woolverstone Hall

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