Sternfield is a village in Suffolk, England. It is located 1 mile (2 km) south of Saxmundham, its post town. The village is very small and irregularly built, and is wholly agricultural.

Sternfield
St Mary Magdalene church
Sternfield is located in Suffolk
Sternfield
Sternfield
Location within Suffolk
Population132 (2011)[1]
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townSAXMUNDHAM
Postcode districtIP17
List of places
UK
England
Suffolk
52°12′04″N 1°29′49″E / 52.201°N 1.497°E / 52.201; 1.497

The village contains a church dedicated to Mary Magdalene. It is Grade II* listed for its surviving medieval work, notably the south porch and tower.[2]

During the 1960s and 1970s Lt. Col. Sir Eric and Lady Penn lived at Sternfield House, a large house next to the church with extensive gardens and as Sir Eric was the comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain's Office and a trusted presence in Buckingham Palace, senior members of the royal family came and stayed at Sternfield House on a number of occasions. Princess Margaret came most often, but the Queen also came at least once and attended St Mary Magdalene's, as did the Queen Mother.

Another notable property is Sternfield Hall, with its classic Georgian soft red brick facade and late 16th-century wing which is probably the site of a medieval manor house where on 27 April 1385, a licence to crenellate at Sternefeld (Sternfield) was granted to Sir Michael de la Pole by Richard II in year eight of his reign.

References

edit
  1. ^ "Parish population 2011". Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  2. ^ Historic England. "CHURCH OF ST MARY MAGDALENE (1278252)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 2 April 2014.