Farmstead record CDD 092 - Farmstead: Dial Farm

Early or mid 17th century farmhouse. 3-cell lobby-entrance plan. 2 storeys and attics. Timber-framed and plastered. Plaintiled roof with axial chimney; the base is 17th century work, the upper shaft having been rebuilt c.1980 and bearing a painted sundial. A 17th century gabled dormer; the original moulded head remains from the casement, which was otherwise renewed in 19th century. 3-light late 19th century casements. Gabled 19th century entrance porch with panelled door, the upper panel glazed with small panes. A lower range was added to right in early 19th century. Complete 17th century framing, the main members exposed internally. 2-tier butt-purlin roof with wind-bracing. The house occupies the island of an unaltered medieval moat (S1).

May 2014: A historic building record was carried out on a 19th century outbuilding attached the farmhouse. This building is in a poor state of repair an Listed Building Consent has been granted to demolish it. The buillding has a softwood frame, comprising sole plate studs and header plate, sitting on a one-brick thick red-brick plinth, and supporting a softwood mono-pitched roof with a slate covering. It is considered to be of little architectural or historic interest (S2).

June 2014: A historic building record of the barns was carried out. Barn 1 is timber-framed on a brick plinth with external weatherboarding c16th century. The frame has been encased in concrete to a heigh of 1.8m and a modern concrete floor laid indicating that the building has likely been recently used for grain storage. The roof structure has been completely replaced in recent years and now comprises softwood rafters supporting purlins spaced to support light weight profiled sheeting. Each side of the main projection of the north elevation are later timber framed and weather boarded lean-to's. Attached to the south elevation is a later open sided lean-to structure roofed with corrugated metal sheeting. Barn 2 is c. 17th century and is comprised of three distinct elements including an open fronted earth brick cart shed; an enclosed building of similar construction; and a timber framed structure. These buildings linked together to form an enclosed yard. The principal timber structure has a first floor which appears to be a later addition and a single storey addition to the north. Cintinual erosion of the earth floor has disrupted the brick plinths. Attached to the southern elevation Is an open sided lean-to (S3).

Dial Farm, Coddenham. 17th century farmstead and farmhouse with converted buildings. Regular courtyard U-shaped plan, with a multi-yard aspect, formed by working agricultural buildings. The farmhouse is set away from the yard. Partial loss (less than 50%) of the traditional farm buidlings. Located within a isolated position (S4-9).

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.