Polstead

'Polstead ‘ the place of pools’ takes its name from the large ponds at the bottom of the hill which leads into the centre of this very pretty little village with its pond, neat cottages and tiny gardens overlooking the river Box.

On the far side of the ponds, standing high above the valley and overlooking the fields to Stoke by Nayland are the church and the hall.

Polstead Hall is a Georgian mansion with some much older parts.

In 1837, the village had some unwanted fame thrust upon it as the place of the Murder in the Red Barn. Maria Marten, the local mole-catchers daughter and a girl of no great reputation disappeared with her lover, William Corder, a local farmer’s son.
She was murdered here by her lover and lies buried in the churchyard, her gravestone almost chipped away by souvenir hunters. Corder was hanged at Bury St Edmunds. A notice board has been erected which tells the sad tale.

The 12th century Church of St Mary has two interesting features which make it unique among Suffolk churches, its stone spire and the arches in its chancel and nave made of very early bricks.