Farmstead record WHR 071 - Farmstead: Redgate Farm

The 5 bay barn is early 17th century, and weatherboarded and thatched with a mid 17th century south facing porch. It formed a traditional threshing barn and survives in good condition. The framing consists largely of re-used timber from one or more earlier buildings. The most striking feature of the building is the unusually elaborate internal bracing of its walls: each bay contains a tension brace above its mid-rail and a sharply cranked foot-brace linking the storey posts and ground sills. The result is highly elegant but may have been occasioned by a practical need for additional strength given the extent of re-used material. Despite the loss of both gables, and the replacement of its tie beam braces with bolted knees, the barn is a well-preserved example which is of considerable interest and fully justifies its listed status. A nearby cart lodge and granary of the early-19th century is also a good example of its kind, albeit of much later origin, and while the various lean-to sheds adjoining the barn are reconstructions of the 20th century they reflect a major 19th century remodelling which was designed to accommodate cattle in the standard manner of the period. While not of particular value in themselves they illustrate a major historic development on the site and are of historic interest accordingly (S1).

Redgate Farm, Wherstead. 17th century farmstead and farmhouse, with converted buildings. Regular courtyard E-shaped plan formed by working agricultural buildings. The farmhouse is set away from the yard. Sigificant 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.