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
