Bildestone, a village and a parish in Suffolk. The village stands 6 miles NNW of Hadleigh station on the Great Eastern railway, and has a post, money order, and telegraph office (S.O.) It was formerly a market-town, but its importance has declined. The parish comprises 1171 acres ; population of the civil parish, 736 ; of the ecclesiastical, 744. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Ely; gross yearly value, £397 with residence. The church is Perpendicular, of the 15th century, and stands apart from the village. The chancel was restored in 1883, and further improvements were effected in 1886. There is also a Baptist chapel, erected in 1844. A spired clock tower was built in the centre of the village in 1864.
