Ruins Of Hall Of Pleas And South Wall Of Great Court

The ruins of the Hall of Pleas and the south wall of the Great Court are located in the Abbey Precincts of Bury St Edmunds. These structures date from the late 12th century, with some additions from the 13th century. They are built from rubble and coursed flint, featuring dressings of Barnack stone.

The south wall of the Great Court, which is crenellated and stands to its full height, measures 66 metres long and partly serves as the garden wall for Abbey House. It includes a keeled string-course and ashlar-faced stepped buttresses along the north side, as well as a splayed ashlar-faced section at the north-east corner. The south face, which was originally the north wall of the Hall of Pleas, has high blocked windows and a doorway. The 13th-century surround of the doorway has been replaced on the south side but remains intact on the north side, where the pointed arch features jambs with a continuous multiple moulding and a moulded hood-mould topped by the head of a bearded man. Additionally, about 20 metres of the east wall of the Hall of Pleas still stand almost to full height, showcasing flat buttresses and a wide segmental-arched recess on the west side. This site is also designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.