Farmstead record UFF 036 - Field Barn: Upper Barn

Upper Barn is a field barn visible on the 1st Ed Os map. The barn sits alongside a private track in an isolated location. This barn survives intact.

Upper Barn is a high-quality brick structure of the mid-18th century which lies on high ground 1.1 km north of Ufford parish church. It has always formed an isolated field barn and originally belonged to Willow Farm in East Lane; part of the substantial landholding of the Mills Charity Estate that was founded under the 1703 will of Thomas Mills of Framlingham to benefit the poor. The barn remains chiefly intact, with its original five-bay roof of staggered butt-purlins and a central porch in its western elevation. The porch was flanked by an unusual pair of integral lean-to sheds entered by wide arches that were probably designed as temporary granaries, but one of these was removed in the early-20th century. The walls are pierced by six ventilation slits that are also unusual and reflect the expensive 'estate quality' of the building and both roof gables contain large pitching holes. Of particular historic interest is an authentic internal inscription adjacent to the porch which reads 'BRICK BARN 1767'. While dated personal names/initials are common in such positions it is unusual to find an example which appears to both date and name the barn itself. There is evidence of original full-height barn doors at both ends of the central threshing bay, forming a vehicle thoroughfare in a manner often found in 19th century barns but rare in the 18th century. The structure is accordingly of special historic interest and in May 2010 it was added to the EH Schedule of Listed Buildings (S1).

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.