The name Stanstead is Anglo Saxon for "stony place" and it is easy to appreciate how this came about when viewing the surrounding fields, particularly in the lower part of the village, which are strewn with glacial flint.

There is much evidence of earlier Iron Age and Roman settlements in the surrounding area.

The Parish borders Long Melford in the west, Glemsford to the south, Boxted to the east and Shimpling to the north.

The three tiers of local government are administered by Shimpling is served by one bus service operated by Hedingham & Chambers: The village is served by Hartest CEVCP School, a primary school currently catering for pupils aged 5–11.

[4] According to the Office for National Statistics, at the time of the United Kingdom Census 2001, Stanstead had a population of 316 with 127 households.