Farmstead record BNL 056 - Farmstead: Home Farm

Home Farm is a farmstead visible on the first Ed OS map and the Benhall Tithe map. The farmhouse is listed and dates to the 17th century. The farmstead is laid out in a regular U-plan with additional L-plan and detached features. The farmhouse is attached to the agricultural buildings. The farmstead sits alongside a public road in an isolated position. Many of the working buildings have been lost with a large modern working building next to the site. This represents a significant loss (50%).

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.

Home Farm is listed as a 17th century farmhouse. The core of the house actually dates back to the 16th century with substantial 17th century alterations. Home Farm was in the ownership of the Brown family until 1778 when it was purchased by Samuel Rush. It is not clear when the Brown family acquired the property but various members of the same family lived in Benhall from as early as 1469. It is highly likely that Home Farmhouse was constructed by a member of this family. The barn appears to date to the late 18th century and was probably constructed between 1778 and 1790. The stable range is not contemporary with the barn but appears to date to the early 19th century