Wherstead

It is an ancient settlement, and from its soil the plough has brought to light many evidences of occupation by Romans and by early Britons. In the Domesday Book of 1086 the place is described under the Old English names Querstede and Wervesteda.[https://opendomesday.org/place/TM1640/wherstead/ Open Domesday: Wherstead]. Accessed April 2020. Toponymic surnames which originate from Wherstead include Quested and Quersted.{{cite book |editor-first=Patrick |editor-last=Hanks |editor-link=Patrick Hanks |editor2-first=Richard |editor2-last=Coates |editor3-first=Peter |editor3-last=McClure |title=The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2016 |isbn=9780192527479 |page=2193 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0AyDDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA2193}} The name of the village and parish is in today generally pronounced Wersted or Warsted by the residents, the "a" in the latter case having the sound of "a" in father.

The Paul farming and malting family brought land in Wherstead in 1934.{{cite web |title=Paul's: A Local Firm |url=http://www.ipswichsociety.org.uk/newsletter/newsletter-april-2003-issue-151/paul-s-a-local-firm/ |website=Ipswich Society}} The late George Paul earned an MBE,{{cite web |title=A Shotley peninsula horse lover and Babergh communities officer named in Queen's New Year's honours list |url=https://shotleypeninsula.nub.news/news/local-news/babergh-communities-officer-franstine-jones-and-horse-lover-george-paul-made-medallists-order-of-british-empire-in-queen39s-new-year39s-honours-list-cabinet-member-councillor-derek-davis |website=Shotley Peninsula Nub News|date=31 December 2021 }} following a long had association with Suffolk Horses and horseracing.{{cite web |title=An Interview with Mr George Paul |url=https://www.wivenhoehistory.org.uk/content/topics/resources/books-about-wivenhoe/nick-butler-interviews/an-interview-with-mr-george-paul |website=Wivenhoe's History}} His son and nephews run Suffolk Food Hall.{{cite web |title='Suffolk Statesman' George Paul was a leader in business and horseracing |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/obituaries/23047395.suffolk-statesman-george-paul-leader-business-horseracing/ |website=East Anglian Daily Times|date=14 October 2022 }}

The Church of St Mary, Wherstead, is an Anglican church situated on a hill top site occupied by a church since 1086. It is currently managed by the Two Rivers Benefice, which is composed of the Parishes of Stutton, Holbrook, Woolverstone and Freston, as well as Wherstead.{{cite web |title=Our Churches |url=https://www.tworiversbenefice.org/our-churches |website=Benefice 01 |publisher=Two Rivers Benefice |access-date=18 February 2024 |language=en}}

Foster Barham Zincke was vicar of St Mary, Wherstead when he wrote Materials for the History of Wherstead first published as a series of articles in the Suffolk Chronicle, which were later gathered into book form. Following the publication of the First Edition, in 1887. The subsequent Second Edition featured additional material gathered in Part II: Wherstead in Domesday.Zincke, Foster Barham, "Wherstead: Some Materials for Its History, Territorial, Manorial and During the Events Between", p. 113. [https://archive.org/stream/whersteadsomema00zincgoog#page/n163/mode/2up Online reference]

{{Main|Bourne Bridge, Suffolk}}

Bourne Bridge marks the boundary of Wherstead parish. Near the bridge stands the Ostrich Inn. At the time of the New England migration, oysters were abundant in the River Orwell, and some speculate that Ostrich was a corruption from 'Oyster Ridge' or 'Oyster Reach'. It is more likely {{cite web |title=Wherstead |url=https://heritage.suffolk.gov.uk/media/pdfs/wherstead.pdf |website=Suffolk Heritage Explorer |publisher=Suffolk County Council}} that the pub name derives from the crest of lawyer and Chief Justice, Sir Edward Coke, who acquired the surrounding estate in 1609, and the pub sign is similar to others across East Anglia. In 1995 the pub was renamed from The Ostrich to The Oyster Reach. In 2017 the Oyster Reach branding was removed and it is now part of the Beefeater chain.{{cite web | url=https://suffolk.camra.org.uk/pub/1010 | title=Wherstead Oyster Reach || the Suffolk Pubs Guide }}

{{main|Wherstead Park, Suffolk|}}

Wherstead Park is a notable historic house which was converted to an events venue. It closed as such Christmas 2023.{{cite web |title=We're closing |url=https://www.whersteadpark.co.uk/ |website=www.whersteadpark.co.uk |publisher=wherstead Park |access-date=16 February 2024}}

{{Reflist}}

• Merrill, Samuel; A Merrill Memorial, reprint, p 48-49

• {{cite web

| title = Welcome to the Wherstead village website

| url = http://wherstead.onesuffolk.net/

| access-date = 19 Aug 2023}}

• {{cite web

| title = Two Rivers Benefice; St Mary's church Wherstead

| url = https://www.tworiversbenefice.org/st-mary-s-wherstead

| access-date = 19 Aug 2023}}

• {{cite web

| title = St Mary, Wherstead - suffolkchurches.co.uk

| url = http://www.suffolkchurches.co.uk/wherstead.html

| access-date = 22 April 2012}}

• {{cite web

| title = Suffolk Food Hall, Wherstead - suffolkfoodhall.co.uk

| url = http://www.suffolkfoodhall.co.uk/

| access-date = 22 April 2012}}

• {{cite web

| title = Jimmy's Farm, Wherstead - jimmysfarm.com

| url = http://www.jimmysfarm.com/

| access-date = 22 April 2012}}

• {{cite web |title=Wherstead Explorer Guide |url=https://www.thesuffolkcoast.co.uk/shares/Wherstead_Explorer_Guide-AONB.pdf |website=The Suffolk Coast |access-date=19 Aug 2023}}
• {{cite web |title=Walk along the banks of the River Orwell at Wherstead |url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/21653694.walk-along-banks-river-orwell-wherstead/ |website=East Anglian Daily Times |date=21 June 2015 |access-date= 21 June 2015}}

{{Commons category-inline|Wherstead}}

{{Babergh}}

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Category:Villages in Suffolk

Category:Babergh District

Category:Civil parishes in Suffolk