The Abbey (Junior School)

The Abbey, now used as a junior school, is a complex building dating back to the 16th century, built on the site of a former Priory of Austin Canons of Woodbridge. The Priory was suppressed in 1537 and subsequently passed through various owners, including Sir Anthony Wingfield, Sir John and Dorothy Wingfield, and Thomas Seckford, who acquired the property in 1564 – a date marked on his coat of arms above the south porch. The building remained in the Seckford family until 1673. During the Commonwealth period, it was occupied by John Hope.

The building is two stories high with gabled dormers. The most prominent feature is the three-story porch and room above it. The gables boast brick pediments, and the brick mouldings and mullions are finished with stucco. The porch features triple superimposed orders above a semi-circular arched doorway. The ground floor displays Doric columns with fluted pilasters and panelled pedestals, a moulded brick entablature, and above, plain brick pilasters topped by a brick pediment. The original building includes four gabled dormers. A moulded brick band still visible, also stucco-faced, marks the earlier work, with three modern bays present along the south front. The north front reveals remnants of the original structure, indicating two gabled wings which have since been filled in with modern additions. The original staircase has been preserved. The south porch door is 18th century, with a contemporary door and fanlight fitted within the frame and modern porch; these elements might have been acquired from elsewhere. A brick moulded four-centre archway leads to the cellar on the south front. The building has undergone extensive alterations and additions over time, largely in period reproduction styles, incorporating pinnacles and other embellishments to the original fabric.