Farmstead record ETN 016 - Farmstead: Low Farm

Low Farm is a farmstead visible on the 1st Ed OS map. The farmstead is laid out in a parallel plan with additional detached elements and the farmhouse set away from the yard. The farmstead sits alongside a public road in an isolated location.

A architectural assessment was undertaken in advance of proposals for renovation and conversion of the farm buildings at Low Farm. The grade II listed farmhouse is a substantial timber framed, lobby entrance plan house, built circa 1600 AD. A detached backhouse or kitchen of 18th century date is situated close to the east end of the house, and includes a Victorian range and brick oven. The farm buildings are arranged in two ranges along the north and south sides of a yard, including two substantial barns dating to c. 1600 AD. Much of the southern range survives as the Great Barn, a 5 bay barn with aisle to the south and central cabled threshing bay. The barn is timber framed, stands on a rebuilt red brick plinth, recovered in weatherboard and with a red pantiled roof, and although built in c. 1600 AD appears to have be largely reconstructed in the early 19th century, with modern restoration. The Hay Barn is located within the northern range, and is a 3 1/2 bay aisled timber framed barn, and retains a significant amount of fabric originating from 1600. The farm complex also contains two cart sheds, one of mid 20th century date, and the second, a open fronted shed, with pantiled roof and weatherboarded walls on a brick plinth, dating to the end of the 19th century (S1).

Grade II listed farmhouse at Low Farm: Farmhouse. Late C16/early C17. Timber framed and plastered, pantiled roof. 2 storeys and attic. 3 cell plan. 4 window range, various casements, 3 C18 windows with square leaded panes to first floor; lobby entrance with C19 gabled brick porch, 5 panelled door and semi-circular fanlight. Internal stack with 4 hexagonal flues coupled in sawtooth fashion, moulded base; external stack to right hand side. The left hand gable has a pierced drop finial (in poor condition). Single storey brick wing to right hand side (S2).

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.