Monument record HTT 039 - 16th to 19th century Inn and Medieval boundary ditches at Five Bells Inn, Hessett

An archaeological evaluation was carried by trial trenching; the work was carried out in response to an archaeological brief written by Dr Hannah Cutler of the Suffolk= County Council Archaeological Services Conservation Team, dated 7th of April 2017.
Three trenches, Tr 1, 9.50m long by 1.80m wide, was excavated to cover the proposed workshop footprint; Tr 2, 16m long by 1.80m was excavated to cover the new house footprint; Tr 3, 9m long by 1.80m was excavated to cover the garage footprint.
Archaeology was present in all three trenches in the form of small ditches or gulleys interpreted as property boundaries, dating to the high medieval period, a pit with residual roman pottery, of uncertain date was also located. (S1)

2018: A level 2 Historic Building Recording was undertaken of the extant Five Bells Inn and associated outbuilding and Inn sign pillar.
This is a complex building which has developed over time in an order which is uncommon for the vernacular forms of the late medieval to post medieval country houses found throughout Suffolk. When viewed from the front elevation, it would appear that the south range or what would be the hall is the earliest phase, with a central cross-wing arrangement, common to many post-medieval houses in Suffolk. Both the Inn and the Inn sign (pillar) are listed.
The building is timber-framed and rendered. The roof is plain tiled and has two gabled 19th
century dormers with small-pane casements; there are two axial chimneys of red brick, both of which appear to have rebuilt upper shafts.. The windows are part wood and metal frames, largely dating from the 19th century.
The public house had to out-buildings, one of which has been demolished. The existing out-building was probably used as a cart lodge and stable. It is a simple building consisting of three bays including a cat-slide addition to the eastern gable wall, one bay is partly open and the other having double wooden doors and a single doorway. It is built of red brick of the usual type with lime mortar bonding and roofed over with pan tiles, the gable ends are part weather-board.
To the front of the property, close to the roadside, exists the original pub sign pillar (sign
removed). This single pillar was thought to be part of a set of 4 gate pillars.
The brickwork is in English bond, style, which was in use until the end of the 17th century
and a little into the early 18th century. It is was thought to have originally belonged to a
gateway to Hessett Hall, to the rear of the inn. (S2)