Kedington
The modern name of Kedington comes from
the Anglio-Saxon name Cydda + ingas + tun
meaning,
"Farmstead belonging to Cydda's
people". Kedituna is another name used used in times past, in more
recent times it is also known and called Kitton or Ketton by the
locals.
Kedington has been home to many people,
from the Stone age to the present day, people have settled here in part
of the Stour Valley with the River Stour running through the middle of
the Village.
The main family to live in Kedington
were the Barnardiston Family, they lived in a large hall named as you
would expect Barnardiston Hall located to the north side of the Village
Church of St.Peter & St.Paul.
The Barnardistons ruled over most of
Suffolk two of them were High Sheriffs of Suffolk, another two were
Rectors of the Village Church and most of them were Knighted. Sir Thomas
Barnardiston was Knighted at the Hall by Queen Elisabeth 1st, when she
stayed at the Hall on her way to Newmarket.
The Barnardistons were very influential
and were high ranking on the Parliamentarians side during the civil war,
the term Roundhead has also been attributed to Sir, Samuel Barnardiston.
The Rev, Samuel Fairclough vicar of Kedington
(1629-1662) served on the Witch Trials at Bury St Edmunds.
The Rev, Joannes Tillotson later became
the Archbishop of Canterbury,
Church
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