It is between Sudbury and Bury St Edmunds and historically its residents have made their living from farming although other occupations included those of blacksmith, miller, carpenter, shopkeeper, beer seller, teacher and so on.

However the parish retains the three staples of life in their thriving community - the church, the pub and the village hall.

They arrived in the early 19th century and purchased many Shimpling properties and farms and lived in Chadacre Hall (built in 1835).

[3] The village is depicted in Thomas Gainsborough's 1752 work, showing John Plampin in Chadacre Park looking towards Lawshall.

2 (2006) the Built-up area boundary is defined for Shimpling Street with no sites allocated for new residential development.

[13][14] Giffords Hall Vineyard & Wines is located in the parish of Shimpling near the village of Hartest between Bury St Edmunds and Sudbury.

[15] Shimpling is served by a bus service on Wednesdays operated by Chambers (Sponsored by Suffolk County Council).

Service 375 - Alpheton-Bridge Street-Shimpling-Shimpling Street-Cockfield-Lawshall-Hawstead-Nowton-Bury St Edmunds http://www.suffolkonboard.com/buses/bus-timetables-by-service-number Thomas Hallifax built Shimpling Girls' School in 1841 and in 1871 his daughter added the boys section.

[3] Children in Shimpling have to travel outside the village for school, typically to Lawshall, Hardwick, and Bury St Edmunds.