Poplar Farmhouse

TL 77 NW MILDENHALL THE STREET, HOLY WELL ROW

6/84 No. 2 Poplar Farmhouse -

• II

House, formerly farmhouse. Early C16, with alterations of C17 and c.1980. Small open-hall house with cross-wing to right and altered service cell to left. The hall range is of 1 storey with attics, and the cross-wing of 2 storeys. Timber-framed and rendered, with alterations of clunch and painted brick. C20 applied half-timbering to cross-wing. Hipped double Roman pantiled roof, formerly thatched, with rendered C17 chimney having sunk date panel, the upper part of shaft in gault brick. C19 and C20 casements and panelled entrance door. The small central open hall has its original smoke-blackened clasped-purlin roof. The 2-bay cross-wing was originally of 2 cells at ground floor and one above, which has a central arch-braced tie-beam. A narrow cell to left has heavy lodged floor joists and evidence for close-studding; there was originally a small loft above within a hipped roof. This end was extended C17 to provide a heated parlour, and a massive chimney and 1st floor were inserted into the hall. Included despite C20 alterations because a rare example of a late-mediaeval Breckland farmhouse; a further rare feature is the original combination of an open hearth with a hall having a side-purlin roof, two features not normally considered contemporary in Suffolk.

Listing NGR: TL7047377355