Farmstead record BUR 034 - Farmstead: Hill House

Grade II Farmhouse of Yeoman/ minor gentry status: contains a closely studded parlour with elaborate chamfer stops to its ceiling and Ovolo- window in its contemporary rear wing. The house has been much altered, its hall and service bays being reconstructions of the 18th/19th C, which may have replaced medieval predecessors.

The most complete and important domestic building on site is almost certainly a 'unit house', built to accommodate semi-independent family members and found to the S of the house. It is a survival of national significance and, although it was converted into a granary in c.1800, its frame remains largely in-tact with evidence of a central chimney, S facing lobby entrance with hall and parlour of equal proportions on either side. The structure also retains its original ceilings on ground and upper floors as well as a clasped-purlin roof. Wind braces have been removed. Interesting features include its oak frame, glazed oriel windows and plaster ceilings. The structure is unusually compact.

Five Bay Barn: Found to the N of the complex and is of considerable interest as a sophisticated, multi purpose structure. It contains a 3 bay threshing barn with separate sheds and stables at each end - one containing a cross entry in the standard manner of stables and another a single entrance in its gable.

Small detached stable: A rare survival, with externally trenched wall braces and evidence of a hayloft.

Both barn and particularly the stable have been much altered and fail to meet listing criteria, despite their undoubted value as part of a historic group. The granary (unit house) merits listing at Grade II.
(S1, S2, S3)

2007 planning appraisal of the barns recorded that the buildings have been unused for several years forming occasional or workshop storage to a domestic accomodation. The buildings are of mid 17th century construction with mid 16th century framework in certain areas, being composed of substantial timber framework with weatherboarding and a simple modern truss replacement roof. The roof of the building and the other buildings are finished in red clay pantiles or corrugated tin sheeting. The surveyed buildings include the Granary, Principal Barn, Horse Stable, Tack Room and Field Store (S4).

Hill House, Brundish. 17th century farmstead and farmhouse. Loose courtyard three-sided plan formed by working agricultural buildings. The farmhouse is set away from the yard. Partial loss (less than 50%) of the traditional farm buildings. Located within an isolated position (S5-10).

Recorded as part of the Farmsteads in the Suffolk Countryside Project. This is a purely desk-based study and no site visits were undertaken. These records are not intended to be a definitive assessment of these buildings. Dating reflects their presence at a point in time on historic maps and there is potential for earlier origins to buildings and farmsteads. This project highlights a potential need for a more in depth field study of farmstead to gather more specific age data.