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The Parish is spelt in a variety of ways in ancient records - Balderswella,
Baldeswell, Badswell, Bawsewella.  The prefix may be the old Norse 'Baldr' a personal name.  Bawd and Baldr are the same, meaning 'bold', and Baldr is the name of a god in Northern mythology.
The Anglo-Saxon Balder means a Prince and so the name may just mean 'Prince's spring', as 'well' can mean 'spring'.
The village is mentioned in the Norwich Domesday Book around 1286.
Bawdeswell has grown up at a point where six long established routes met, including a section of Roman Road running westward to Castle acre.
The original settlers found water and sank a well here.
It has been an important stopping off point for the changing of horses and coaches and for refreshment.  There were once four inns.
 
Bawdeswell is the home of Chaucer's Reeve, and he described it thus:
"Of Northfolk was this Reve of which I telle, biside a toun men clepen Baldeswelle."    14C
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