The name Ifield (Ifelt, Yfeld) dates from the very early Saxon period when the word field simply meant a clearing or settlement so Ifield means the clearing or settlement in the yew trees. The use of field in a place name tells us that it is an ancient settlement which probably already existed when the Saxons arrived in the mid 5th century as later Saxon language used 'ley' to convey the same meaning; see Crawley. Armed with this knowledge, along with the Roman era and prehistoric finds in the area immediately to the west of the church, means we are able to say with some confidence that Ifield as a cultivated settlement dates back at least to Roman times and possibly as early as the late Bronze Age.

In 1086, the Domesday book assessed Ifield as consisting of 5 villagers & 4 smallholders (this would only relate to land/lease holders and doesn't include labourers or other workers). We had 1 men's plough team looking after 6 acres of meadow as well as woodland and the annual value of the Manor to the Lord, who was Alwy at the time of the Conquest and William son of Ranulf by the time of Domesday, was 1 pound, or six swine.

Click the map to access the Ifield Parish Map