Building record HGH 068 - Palmers Bakery, The Green

Palmers Bakery is a grade II listed late-17th century domestic house that was extensively remodelled in the early-19th century. The building reflects the typical layout of the 17th century, with a small parlour to the north divided by a substantial axial chimney from a larger hall to the south, and may have possessed an additional service bay or wing on the site of the present bakehouse. Much of its historic fabric is hidden by render and dry-lining, but its original oak ceiling joists remain visible, as does an area of timber-framing with wattle-and daub infill on the stair landing. The building may have been built in the wake of the Haughley fire of 1710, but appears to be slightly earlier in date and there is no evidence of significant fire damage in the neighbouring medieval and Tudor houses.

The deeds of the property, which date only from a sale of 1741, establish that it occupies the site of two earlier market stalls that lay ‘beneath’ the market place. The market of Haughley was granted a charter in 1231, but the street pattern and surviving 14th century stalls nearby suggest it was established at an earlier period on the high ground south of the Norman castle and church. The two earlier stalls in question therefore lay beneath the medieval market on the lower ground at its margin, but above the later ‘marketstead’ on the present green to which it subsequently contracted. The deeds refer to another property, now demolished, which stood on the green to the west of the bakery. While the present structure does not predate the 17th century it seems likely that commercial premises have occupied the same
location, with access across the green, since the early Middle Ages (S1).