Bruisyard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bruisyard |
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 St Peter's Church |
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 Bruisyard
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| Population | 175 (2011) |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Saxmundham |
| Postcode district | IP17 |
| Dialling code | 01728 |
| Police | Suffolk |
| Fire | Suffolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Bruisyard is a small village located in the beautiful valley of the River Alde in Suffolk, England. In 2011, about 175 people lived here.
The name Bruisyard first appeared in the famous Domesday Book in 1086, where it was called Buresiart. Experts believe the name comes from an old language called Anglo-Saxon. It likely means "peasant's yard" or "enclosure," which was a common type of farm or home area.
Contents
Bruisyard's Historic Buildings
From Nunnery to Grand Hall
Long ago, in 1364, a special building called Rokes Hall manor house was turned into a nunnery. This was a place where nuns, who were religious women, lived and prayed. It was founded by Lionel, Duke of Clarence, a powerful duke. The nuns belonged to an order called the Poor Clares.
Later, in 1539, during the time of King Henry VIII, the nunnery, known as Bruisyard Abbey, was taken over by the King. This event was part of a bigger change in England called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. After this, a new, grand house called Bruisyard Hall was built on the same spot. It even used some parts of the older nunnery buildings.
St Peter's Church: A Saxon Treasure
The village church, dedicated to St Peter, is a very old and important building. It is so special that it is listed as a Grade I building, meaning it has great historical value. The church dates back to at least Saxon times, which was over 1,000 years ago!
St Peter's Church is unusual because it has a round tower. These types of churches are rare in England, but you can find most of them in the eastern part of the country, especially in East Anglia. During some repair work in 2017, old medieval wall paintings were discovered inside the church. These amazing artworks have now been carefully protected for everyone to see.
Community Life in Bruisyard
Modern Village Hall
The people of Bruisyard have a modern village hall. It was built on the Parish Park and finished in December 2009. Many groups helped fund the project, including the Big Lottery Fund. The hall officially opened in July 2010.
Inside the hall, you can see beautiful artworks. There is a stained glass window created by artist Sharon McMullin, which shows local plants and animals. Also, there are nine plaster panels made by sculptor Anne Smith. These panels show scenes from Bruisyard's past and present. The middle panel even shows the entry for Bruisyard (Buresiart) from the Domesday Book!
Village Sign
In 2004, the Parish Council asked sculptor Anne Smith to create a special village sign for Bruisyard. The sign shows Saint Clare, who was the founder of the Order of the Poor Clares. This is a nod to the village's history with the nunnery.
