URPoint Details
The village is known not only for its 50 acre common but ancient woodlands including: Bonny, Bells, Priestley and Swingen Woods.
Barking was mentioned in the Domesday Book and some local names can still be traced back to that time.
In 1874 the village was described as a ‘pleasant village and township including the hamlets of Darmsden and Needham Market’.
The Romans had settled here as there have been some significant finds and at the end of the 18th century a fine 2ft Golden Bronze figure was unearthed, buried 12ft below ground near Barking Hall. This figure representing an imperial personage was presented to the British Museum in 1813 by Lord Ashburnham, then the local Lord of the manor.
The Church of St Mary is somewhat larger than the usual village church and was the mother church to Needham Market.
Built in the Decorated and Perpendicular style has fine roofs and preserves two old-fashioned braziers.
- Type:
- Landmark