Facts about Long Melford
Long Melford History
Prehistoric finds discovered in 2011 have shown that early settlement of what is now known as Long Melford dates back to the Mesolithic period, up to 8300 BC. In addition, Iron Age finds were made in the same year, and again were found within the large central area of the current village.
The Romans constructed two roads through Long Melford, the main one running from Chelmsford to Pakenham. Roman remains were discovered in a gravel pit in 1828, a site now occupied by the village’s football club. Roman finds in recent years included complete skeletons, a stone coffin, part of the original Roman Road, complete Samian pottery and a Spartan Sword unearthed in a villager’s garden.
Sport & Leisure
Long Melford has a Non-League football club, Long Melford F.C., which plays at Stoneylands, just off St Catherine’s Road. They are members of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division following promotion as champions of Division One in the 2014/15 season. Long Melford has a large water meadow on the approach to Liston and a network of footpaths. Among these paths is the Melford Walk, which follows the route of the disused railway line before joining the Valley Walk path to Sudbury. The Suffolk Cycle Route also passes through the village. Located at the southern end of the village next to the River Stour in the adjoining hamlet of Rodbridge Corner is Long Melford Country Park.
