The history of the village can be traced as far back as the Roman times based on a site containing a pottery kiln dated around the third century.

However, the arrival of the railway in 1846 and the bacon factory in 1911, meant the green now has houses built on it.

The village has had a railway station since 1846, on the line between Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich.

There is a wildlife area at Kiln Meadow, and two pubs – The Tavern and The Fox - exist in the village.

Elmswell was named Suffolk's village of the year in 2008 beating Cockfield and Fressingfield into second and third place respectively.