Farmstead record MDS 162 - Farmstead: Hawkins Farm

Hawkins Farmhouse is a 16th C structure with 18th C additions, disguised by a 19th C brick façade. The outbuildings at the fam include a substantial timber-framed and weatherboarded barn of 7 bays and a three-bay contemporary cartlodge with a first floor granary. Both buildings are exceptional examples of their respective types of East Anglian farm building. The barn is of special historic interest as an almost completely intact early 19th century threshing barn of advanced and sophisticated construction that is precisely dated to August 1st 1822 by a carpenter's inscription in the roof and offers nationally important insight into the dating of similar barns elsewhere. The herringbone threshing floor is among the best in Suffolk, whilst the inscription in red ochre extends to some 14m in length and is probably the most extensive and remarkable example of its kind in East Anglia. It names the local carpenters involved in the raising on a new frame less than three months after its predecessor was destroyed by fire. The cartlodge is also among the best preserved examples in the region of an increasingly rare building type, depsite the loss of its grain bins. Also present is a 19th C clay lump and brick cow shed, loose box and feed store (S1).

Hawkins Farm, Mendlesham. 19th century farmstead with 16th century listed farmhouse. Regular courtyard L-shaped plan formed by working agricultural buildings. The farmhouse is set away from the yard. There has been partialoss (less than 50%) of traditional buildings. Located within a loose farmstead cluster (S2-S7).

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.