Farmstead record LXD 065 - Farmstead: Sancroft Manor Farm

Sancroft Barn lies on the western side of Stirrup Street. It belonged in the 19th century to a tenanted holding of 45.5 acres based at Sancroft Manor Farm - a grade II-listed late-16th century house on the opposite side of the road. During the 1838 Laxfield tithe survey the timber-framed and weatherboarded barn formed the western range of an enclosed yard. A 20th century lean-to extends the entire length of the rear elevation. It represents a four-bay threshing barn with an unusually well preserved threshing floor of gault brick and in its present form dates from the late-18th to early-19th century. The two northern bays, however, date from the late-16th or early-17th century and were probably designed as a stable with a hay loft and once contained diamond mullioned windows. The wall framing is in good condition with internally trenched braces, but its loft and part of its southern bay were removed when the building was converted into a barn. This conversion involved the addition of a new southern bay consisting entirely of re-used timber which preserves a section of its original external wall of whitewashed clay daub. At the time of inspection the barn contained two historic grain sifting machines and the remains of a belt drive, illustrating the introduction of mechanised threshing during the second half of the 19th century. One of the sifters retains its 19th century paintwork and the name of a Framlingham retailer. Despite its considerable historic interest, however, the barn is unlikely to meet the strict English Heritage criteria for listing. A historic building survey was carried out for this barn, prior to its conversion (S1).

Sancorft Manor Farm, Laxfield. 19th century farmstead and 16th century barn and listed farmhouse. Full regular courtyard plan formed by working agricultural buildings. The farmhouse is set away from the yard. Significant loss (over 50%) of the traditional farm buildings. Located within a loose farmhouse cluster (S2-S7)

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.