| Country: | England |
| Coordinates: | 52.007°N 0.902°W |
| Official Name: | Polstead |
| Static Image: | Church of St Mary - geograph.org.uk - 803800.jpg |
| Static Image Width: | 240px |
| Static Image Caption: | Church of St Mary, Polstead |
| Population: | 851 |
| Population Ref: | (2011)[1] |
| Civil Parish: | Polstead |
| Shire District: | Babergh |
| Shire County: | Suffolk |
| Region: | East of England |
| Constituency Westminster: | South Suffolk |
| Post Town: | Colchester |
| Postcode District: | CO6 |
| Postcode Area: | CO |
| Dial Code: | 01206 |
| Os Grid Reference: | TL991374 |
Polstead is a village and civil parish in the Babergh district of Suffolk, England. The village lies 3miles northeast of Nayland, 5miles southwest of Hadleigh and 9miles north of Colchester. It is situated on a small tributary stream of the River Stour. In 2011 the parish had a population of 851.
The name Polstead is derived from "Place by a pool"[2] There are still two large ponds in the village.
The village was the site of the Red Barn Murder in 1827. The victim Maria Marten was re-buried in the churchyard of St Mary's Church, but her gravestone was subsequently entirely removed by souvenir hunters. Marten is now commemorated by a sign located near to the grave site,[3] and by Marten's Lane which adjoins Water Lane and Mill Street.
The church dates from the 12th century and features some very early English-made bricks. The tower, which is 14th-century, is the only one in Suffolk which still has its original spire, although Pevsner says the spire is later than the tower. The tower at one time contained six bells. The interior of the church contains two brasses, one of which is of a priest and bears a date of 1460.[4]
Next to the churchyard is Polstead Hall, rebuilt in the Georgian style in about 1819. In the grounds of the hall are the remains of the "Gospel Oak", which finally collapsed in 1953, but which is believed to have been the tree under which Saint Cedd preached to the heathen Anglo-Saxons. A new oak tree has been planted as a replacement.[3]
The main village is situated around Polstead Green and the Hill, although Polstead also comprises several hamlets including Polstead Heath, Hadleigh Heath, Bower House Tye, Bell's Corner, Mill Street and Whitestreet Green. The village has one pub, the 17th century Cock Inn, a community shop and post office and a playing field. The playing field hosts an annual music festival around the summer solstice called "Polstice". In the 19th century a two-day fair was held on Polstead Green.[5] Polstead is famous for its cherries and lends its name to a variety, the Polstead Black.[3] In recent years more Polstead Black cherry trees have been planted in and around the village, as these trees had declined in numbers.[6]
Bower House Tye is a hamlet near the A1071 road within the parish.[7] There are five Listed buildings: Bower House,[8] Brewery Farmhouse,[9] Holly Cottage,[10] Holmwood Cottages 1 and 2[11] en The Bower Close.[12]
A Baptist chapel was erected in Hadleigh Heath in 1801 and was removed to Polstead in 1849.[13]
A primitive Methodist chapel was erected in Polstead Heath in 1838.[13]