Site Event/Activity record ESF20907 - Building recording at Abbey Farm, Snape

Abbey Farm lies in open countryside approximately 500 m NW of Snape Bridge and Snape Maltings on the River Alde. The site is of considerable importance as it was occupied by Snape Priory between circa 1155 and its dissolution in the 1520s, and preserves a rare grade II*-listed timber-framed aisled barn of circa 1300. With the exception of the barn, no obvious traces of monastic buildings survive above ground. The single-storied, slate-roofed farm buildings adjoining the timber framed barn formed part of a new horse and cattle yard complex of circa 1870 as shown on the Ordnance Survey of 1882 but not the tithe map of 1848. They reflect the mid-19th century agricultural revolution now known as Victorian High Farming which saw cattle reared in yards. A pair of open-sided shelter-sheds flanked a horse yard to the west and a probable cattle yard to the east, suggesting the western end of the medieval barn had been converted into a stable. While these sheds remain substantially intact, the probable cow-shed at the eastern end of the barn is no longer recognisable. A small, detached brick workshop to the west is broadly contemporary with the yard ranges and adjoined a small yard of its own in the 19th century. It was much altered during the 20th century. Given the extent of their alterations the 19th century farm buildings are of limited historic significance, but serve to provide an agricultural context for the listed barn. Project status: Complete Yes, Validated Yes Previous/Future Work: Previous Yes, Future Yes Associated Identifiers: Sitecode SNP 098 HER event no. SNP 098 Planning Application No. C/07/0917/FUL Planning Application No. C/09/1802 Planning Application No. C/09/1803 NMR No. 1536576 Project Type: Building Recording Methods and Techniques: Photographic Survey Reason for Investigation: Direction from Local Planning Authority - PPG16 Site status: Listed Building Current Land use: Other 2 - In use as a building Monument Type(s)/Period(s): BARN Post Medieval Artefact Type(s)/Period(s): NONE None PROJECT LOCATION Area 1620.00 Square metres Grid Reference: TM39035798 Point PROJECT CREATOR(S) Brief originator: Local Authority Archaeologist and/or Planning Authority/advisory body Design originator: Edward Martin Director/Manager: David Gill Supervisor: Leigh Alston DIGITAL ARCHIVE Recipient: Suffolk County SMR Contents: other Media: Images raster / digital photography, Survey PAPER ARCHIVE Recipient: Suffolk County SMR Contents: other Media: Report BIBLIOGRAPHY Publication Type: Grey literature (unpublished document/manuscript) Title: Former Cattle Sheds, Dairy and Workshop, Abbey Farm, Snape, Suffolk SNP 098 : Historic Building Record Author(s)/Editor(s): Alston, L. Other Bibliographic Details: SCCAS Report Date: 2010 Issuer/Publisher: SCCAS Place of Issue or Publication: Bury St Edmunds Description: A4, comb bound, white cover with a colour photo (also available as PDF)