Farmstead record WHR 073 - Farmstead: Pannington Hall Farm

Pannington Hall Farm lies in open countryside at the western edge of Wherstead parish. Its immediate area is of historic importance as the site of a Domesday manor and later to the Priory of St Peter and Cardinal Wolsey. The present farmhouse is grade II-listed but derelict, which probably formed part of a much larger mid-16th century house, at the time of the tithe survey in 1839 it formed a large holding of 362 acres.

The timber-framed barn has evolved over four centuries to its present length. It consists of an early-17th century five-bay barn with a 19th century extension of two bays to the east and a second five-bay barn of the late-18th or early-19th century to the west with a similar two-bay extension that was probably designed as a stable with a granary above. The western barn consists largely of 16th century timber but this appears to have been re-used in the present building. The tithe map of 1839 seems to show the barn further to the north, and it is unclear whether this relates to a cartographic error or the movement of the barn as part of a mid-19th century redevelopment of the site. Analysis was hampered by extensive conversion work which was already underway at the time of inspection. The 17th century framing is of good quality, but the loss of its original roof structure and the replacement of many principal timbers mean the barn no longer meets the strict English Heritage criteria for listing (S1)

Pannington Hall Farm, Wherstead. 17th century farmstead and 16th century farmhouse. Regular courtyard L-shaped plan with buildings to the third side, formed by working agricultural buildings. The farmhouse is set away from the yard. Significant loss (over 50%) of the traditional farm buildings. Located within an isolated position (S2-7).

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.