[1] The village developed on the important ancient highway from Braintree and Halstead in Essex to Sudbury and Bury St Edmunds.

Ballingdon and Brundon (which formed the township of Ballingdon-cum-Brundon, then in Essex) were added to the borough of Sudbury (and the county of Suffolk) in 1888 as part of the Local Government Act.

[5] Ballingdon came to be home to many businesses, evidence of which can be seen in the architecture of the buildings, with large shop windows and other tell-tale signs.

This was because before Ballingdon became part of Suffolk it was cheaper to open a business on the Essex side of the river, as no levy had to be paid to Sudbury town council.

In September 2018, Ballingdon held its first fete in living memory, raising money for the Eden Rose Coppice.