Stratford St Mary is the southern-most village in Suffolk - walk to the end of the settlement and you find yourself in Essex.

Straford St Mary has been important ever since Roman times as a resting place for people travelling between Norfolk and London. Later in the 18th and 19th centuries Gosherds from Norfolk herded their geese and turkeys along the Stratford road on their way to market in London. Daniel Defoe wrote that more than 300 droves (each up to 1000 birds) a year crossed Stratford bridge. The meadow next to the Corner House is called Gooseacre. This is where the geese were rested on their journey.