Framlingham

Framlingham is a market town and civil parish in the Suffolk Coastal District of Suffolk, England. Commonly referred to as "Fram" by the locals, it is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. It has a population of 3,114 at the 2001 census, increasing to 3,342 at the 2011 Census. Nearby villages include Earl Soham, Kettleburgh, Parham, Saxtead and Sweffling.

Governance
An electoral ward of the same name exists. This parish stretches north-east to Brundish with a total ward population taken at the 2011 Census of 4,744.

Features
Framlingham has a conservation area. The medieval Framlingham Castle is a major feature. The town is home to the summer arts festival Arts Framlingham, Framlingham Castle, the comprehensive secondary school Thomas Mills High School, the independent school Framlingham College, St Michael the Archangel church and Framlingham Town football club (see below). It is also home to the two oldest working post office pillar boxes in the United Kingdom which date from 1856 and can be seen at Double Street and College Road.

It is also home to one of the smallest houses in Britain, known as the "Check House". Converted into a two-storey residence of almost 29 square metres, the former bookmakers office is in the Mauldens Mill Estate in the town centre. The ground floor measures 6.1m x 2.2m.

In 2006, Country Life magazine voted Framlingham the number one place to live in the country.

Transport
The Framlingham Branch line connected Framlingham with the main Ipswich to Lowestoft railway at Wickham Market. The railway station is now the Station Hotel. The line was closed to passenger traffic in the 1950s and to goods in the 1960s. The nearest railway stations today are Wickham Market and Saxmundham, both on the East Suffolk Line.

The town is at the junction of the B1116, B1119 and B1120 roads. The local bus services are detailed at the link given in the references.

Sport and leisure
Framlingham has a Non-League football club, Framlingham Town F.C., which plays at Badingham Road.

Notable people

 * Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk (1443–1524), who held office under four kings, died at Framlingham Castle.
 * Rev. Nicholas Danforth (1589–1636) and family left Framlingham in 1634 for Massachusetts Bay Colony, where his land grant became the town of Framingham, Massachusetts.
 * Thomas Danforth, a Massachusetts Bay Colony magistrate and landowner, was born in 1623 in Framlingham, son of Nicholas.
 * Samuel Danforth, poet, Puritan and evangelist to American Indians, was born in 1626 in Framlingham, son of Nicholas.
 * Nicholas Revett, architect and theorist, was born in Framlingham in 1720.
 * Alethea Lewis (1749–1787), the novelist, was brought up by her maternal grandfather in Framlingham.
 * Robert Hindes Groome (1810–1889), composer, author and cleric, was born in Framlingham.
 * Henry Thompson (1820–1894), a polymath and a surgeon who operated on the Belgian royal family, was born in Framlingham.
 * John Cordy Jeaffreson (1831–1901), writer and lawyer, was born in Framlingham.
 * Francis Stocks (1873–1929), county cricketer, died in Framlingham.
 * Frederick Bird (1875–1965), county cricketer and cleric, was born in Framlingham.
 * Michael Lord (born 1938), deputy speaker and MP for the town, took the title Baron Framlingham rather than "Lord Lord" on becoming a life peer.
 * Alice Russell (born 1976), soul singer, grew up in Framlingham.
 * Laura Wright (born 1990), classical/popular crossover soprano, grew up in Framlingham.
 * Ed Sheeran (born 1991), singer–songwriter, grew up in Framlingham and attended Thomas Mills High School.