St Peter South Elmham

The parish is believed to be part of the land given by Sigeberht of East Anglia, the ruler of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of East Anglia to Felix of Burgundy during the 7th-century.[1] At the Domesday survey in 1086, St Peter was included as part of the area recorded as South Elmham in Wangford Hundred. A population of 108 households was recorded.[6] By the early 12th-century, the land was held by the Bishop of Norwich, before being seized during the Dissolution of the Monasteries and transferred to Edward North, 1st Baron North in 1535.[1]

By the late 16th century the Tasburgh family from the Flixton area had become dominant in the parish. The parish has always been sparsely populated, reaching a population of 129 in the 1801 census, but falling to below 100 by 1851 and below 50 by 1951.[1]

There are no local services other than the parish church, which is dedicated to St Peter. This dates from the 12th century and is a Grade II* listed building.[1][7][8] Two former public houses are known to have operated in the village; both are believed to have closed by 1927.[9][10]

St Peter's Hall, a moated Grade II* listed manor house with elements from the 13th century, is the location of St. Peter's Brewery, founded in 1996 on the site.[3][11][12][13] It was the home of the Tasburgh family, a prominent local family.[14] The brewery operates a public bar and restaurant on the site during the summer months.[15] Businessman and former Formula One Group chief executive Bernie Ecclestone was born in the parish at a property close to the church, now called Hawk House and formerly one of the pubs in the village.[16]