The village is mentioned in the Norwich Domesday Book around 1286.

It was immortalised  by the 14C poet Geoffrey Chaucer as the home of The Reeve in his Canterbury Tales -  "Of Northfolk was this Reve of which I telle, biside a toun men clepen Baldeswelle."   

Bawdeswell has grown up at a point where six long established routes met, including a section of Roman Road running westward to Castle acre.

The original settlers found water and sank a well here.

It has been an important stopping off point for the changing of  horses and coaches and for refreshment.  There were once four inns.