Farmstead record BCG 031 - Farmstead: Squirrells Farm (Hillhouse Farm)

In 2010 a historic building record was produced for the granary at Squirrells Farm, prior to its conversion and extension. Squirrells Farm was known until circa 2006 as Hill Farm or Hillhouse Farm. The original farmhouse is a grade II-listed building of the early-17th century and lies on the opposite side of the road. Hill Farm was a substantial tenanted holding in 1838 with 155 acres of land in Great Bricett alone, and was owned by Robert Partridge Esquire and occupied by John Squirrell; it is marked on Bryant's county map of 1825 as Squirrels Farm. The timber-framed and weatherboarded 4 bay granary adjoins the western side of Offton Road, and is the only building on the site to survive from the 19th century. This building was moved as part of a major mid-19th century refurbishment of the farm complex in circa 1860-80 and its walls were raised in height by 1.2 m (4 ft) to accommodate a new grain floor. The early-19th century ceiling is supported by bolted knee-braces and an axial row of mid-19th century Sampson posts. The first-floor granary, with a cart shed beneath is reached by an external stair adjoining the southern gable in the standard manner (the present stair dating only from the mid-20th century). Despite a number of 20th C alterations, the building remains fairly complete and also preserves a complete series of six mid-19th century boarded grain bins with a central (axial) passage, although the gable entrance is offset to the east. Granaries of this kind were once commonplace, but most have been stripped of their fixtures and fittings and the grain bins at Squirrells Farm are among the best 19th century examples to survive in the region (S1)

Squirrells Farm (Hillhouse Farm), Baylham. 19th century farmstead and 17th century farmhouse. Regular courtayrd E-shaped plan formed by working agricultural buildings. The farmhouse is set away from the yard. Significant loss 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.