HISTORIC VENUE
Suffolk, UK
“Agricultural honesty, with monastic and regal origins”
The grounds already house a successful venue, set within a beautiful Gothic heraldic gatehouse building. The owners wanted to expand this into their Barn and Refectory buildings, whilst carefully preserving the layers of accumulative history found within and being sensitive to their bucolic surroundings. This is a work in progress, but we have loved diving into the rich history of this site, and indeed the abundant craftsmanship still thriving in the area.
DESIGN INSPIRATION
The rich history of the Estate led us to exploring local traditional makers and materials including flint knapping, pargetting, and reed weaving. Newer interventions are to have the same honesty as the layered additions to the buildings over the course of the years, creating spaces that feel atmospheric and evocative. We were inspired by the botanical artistry produced at nearby Benton End, the estate’s Oyster beds, and the simple yet sophisticated feel of countryside retreats.
BUILDING CONTEXT
The stone portion of the building was originally part of a medieval monastic refectory before being converted into a barn in the Tudor period, followed by many subsequent modifications. In the 1500s, the estate was a hunting lodge favoured by Mary Tudor, with the building likely serving as a space for banquets and accommodating royal entourages. The existing Gatehouse on the Estate features flint work, a Heraldic façade, and the accumulative additions of its past owners.
Images by Samuel and Nathaniel Buck, Alice Lund and Jonny Seller