It is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Bufelda, a large village of 42 households held by Count Alan of Brittany.

[2][3] In the medieval period a main route between the port of Dunwich and Bury St Edmunds crossed the modern day A144 road in the centre of the village.

Some Bronze Age and Iron Age archaeological sites have been identified close to the village and a number of medieval sites have been identified, including a scheduled ringwork 83 metres (272 ft) in diameter known as Castle Yard south-east of the village.

[2] The economy has always been based around agriculture, including the linen industry which developed in the Waveney valley area to the north.

An area of sandlings is found in the east of the parish, with the village itself on the eastern edge of the "High Suffolk" clay plateau.

[2] Local services include Bramfield Primary School,[5][6] a pub, village hall, garage and butchers.

[14] Built of red brick in three storeys to an H-shaped floorplan, it has a symmetrical 9-bay late 18th century frontage with projecting wings.