Coney Weston has a different meaning to other towns with the name Weston: it is not a true Weston but is a hybrid name, from Old Norsekonungr "king" and Old Englishtun "farm". The name was recorded as Cunungestuna in the Domesday Book in 1086.
History
Coney Weston was recorded in the Domesday book as "Cunegestuna" in 1086 with a population of 16 households; 12 freemen, 3 smallholders, & 1 slave. RAF Knettishall was built close to Coney Weston from late 1942 by W&G French and occupied by the USAF 388th Bomb Group from June 1943 until April 1945. Flying Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft they completed 306 missions, losing almost 180 aircraft to enemy action and other causes. Perhaps their most famous aircraft was called Thomas Paine. Named at a civic ceremony in honour of Paine’s subsequent contribution to the young American colony’s quest for independence. This aircraft survived many missions until it overshot the runway and ended up in a field. Despite repairs it was subsequently retired from active service.
Current Day
is stretched along two roads, Thetford Road and The Street. In 1988 the population of the village was doubled by a boundary change which officially incorporated the Swan end of Barningham into Coney Weston. At present there are 323 people on the electoral roll living in around 150 houses. The small church of is of the English Decorated style of the mid-14th century. Its nave roof is thatch on the original scissor truss roof. The tower fell in 1690 and was not rebuilt. It is not known for certain why the church stands a mile to the east away from the village. The church has regular services and is part of the . There are no shops but there is a pub, three farms, two builders yards, hairdressers, a , a and timber yard, a wood sculpture yard, a nursery, a game farm and a telephone exchange. The Swan, on the Thetford Rd has hosted in 2009 and may return sometime in the future and a club. For recreation there is a playing field with children’s playing area, a well-used village hall. There are five . The village school was closed in the 1950s but there are primary schools at Barningham and Hopton and secondary schools at Blackbourne Middle School at Stanton and Thurston Upper School. There is no doctor’s surgery in the village but there are surgeries locally at Hopton and Stanton. Two miles from the Norfolk/Suffolk border.
Notable residents
John Patteson ; judge.
Robin Leonard Bidwell ; orientalist and author.
Charles FitzRoy, 10th Duke of Grafton ; aristocrat, soldier, politician, and farmer.
