Farmstead record SUY 106 - Farmstead: St Bartholomew's Priory Farm

A 14th C aisled barn which was part of the priory complex of St Bartholomews (SUY 002); this was believed to be the only complete priory in the county (though note elements said to have been destroyed in C17th according to SUY 002 entry). The barn had an oak timber-frame and was weatherboarded with a thatched roof, although in the 17th C a clasped purlin roof was added. This 6 bay barn, also had 2 threshing floors. The barn was destroyed by fire in January 2011 (S1). Also present were a number of other 19th C outbuildings including a stable and cowshed, but these have recently been removed (S3)
Jan 2011: '14th-century thatched and timber building at St Bartholomew's Priory' destroyed by arsonists. The chapel and farmhouse survive (see SUY 002).
Nov 2011, Oxford Archaeology East conducted an historic building survey and archaeological evaluation at the site of a Grade II listed former barn associated with St Bartholomew's Priory in Sudbury, Suffolk. The barn had been almost entirely destroyed by fire in January of the same year and a record of the remaining structure together with an evaluation of any below-ground remains was necessary in order for de-listing of the building and to allow for decisions regarding the future uses and treatment of the site to be made by the relevant local authorities and English Heritage. St Bartholomew's Priory is believed to have been the only complete priory in the whole of the county, consisting of the barn, the chapel and the house. The former thatched barn, with oak beams, is believed to have dated to the 14th century with later 17th century alterations.The building survey revealed the survival of several phases of repair and alteration to the brick plinth and a full photographic record of the site including a post-fire rectified aerial image was created. The evaluation revealed a cluster of inter-cutting Prehistoric quarry pits and undated ditches surviving beneath the floor of the barn. The trenches outside on the northern side of the barn revealed a brick-lined well, chalk-packed post-holes in addition to a flint wall and demolition layers thought to be associated with the cowsheds previously in this location which were removed within the last 10 years.

St Bartholomew's Priory Farm, Sudbury. 14th century farmstead and 19th century farmhouse. Regular courtyard full plan formed by working agricultural buildings. The farmhouse is set away from the yard. Tonly the farmhouse survives. 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.