Wilby, Suffolk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wilby |
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 Church of St Mary |
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 Wilby
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| Population | 231 |
| OS grid reference | TM242721 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Eye |
| Postcode district | IP21 |
| Dialling code | 01379 |
| Police | Suffolk |
| Fire | Suffolk |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Wilby is a small village in Suffolk, eastern England. It is located in the Mid Suffolk area. You can find it about 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) south-east of Diss. It is also about 2 kilometers (1.25 miles) south of Stradbroke.
In 2001, about 231 people lived in Wilby, spread across 99 homes. The village has some helpful places for its residents. These include a primary school and a village hall. Nearby villages are Brundish, Laxfield, Stradbroke, and Worlingworth. Wilby is quite spread out, with areas like Foals Green and Russel's Green being part of it.
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History of Wilby
The name Wilby likely comes from an old English phrase. It means 'Ring of Willows', which sounds like a peaceful place! The village is very old and was even mentioned in the Domesday Book. This book was a huge survey of England ordered by William the Conqueror in 1086.
Back then, Wilby had seven households. It was part of the land owned by William de Beaufeu, who was the Bishop of Thetford. Later, in 1844, a book called White's Directories listed Thomas Corbett as the 'lord of the manor'. This was a person who owned a lot of land and had power in the area.
St Mary's Church
The village church is called St Mary's. It is a very old building, dating back to the Middle Ages. The church has a tower built in the 1400s. Inside, you can see special wooden bench ends from the same century. These are considered some of the best in the East Anglia region.
The current vicar, Rev'd David Burrell, holds one church service each Sunday. St Mary's is a 'Grade I listed building'. This means it is a very important historical building that needs to be protected. There is also Newton Wilby Hall nearby. It is a 16th-century farmhouse with an old moat around it. This building is 'Grade II listed', meaning it is also historically important.
Wilby Primary School
The village school teaches around 100 children. These students are usually between 5 and 11 years old. The school is rated 'Good' by Ofsted, which checks how well schools are doing in England.
Wilby School also has a special connection with a school in Mbauro, Kenya. This link helps students learn about different cultures. After primary school, most children from Wilby go to Stradbroke High School.
Coronation Village Hall
The village hall is called Coronation Hall. It is located on the B1118 road, near the center of the village. You can find it right across from the school. The hall was named to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
It officially opened on Saturday, May 28, 1955. What's special about it is that it was one of the first village halls in Suffolk built by volunteers. This means people from the village worked together to build it themselves!
Transport Links
From 1908 to 1952, Wilby had its own railway station. It was part of the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway. Today, the closest working train station is at Diss.
