Place Farm Barn, Place Farm Road, Bletchingley

Watching brief by S Hind and R Poulton of SCAU between 2006 and 2009 during the redevelopment of the barn. There was extensive evidence of post-medieval disturbance, much of it relatively modern in date, but a small amount of prehistoric material, including Mesolithic flintwork and Bronze Age pottery, was recovered. However, the principal interest of the site related to the fact that Place Farm is an 18th century building formed on the manorial complex of Bletchingley Place. The standing walls at the south end of the barn were built over broad and deep foundations of Reigate greensand, which are clearly too substantial to have been built to support the present superstructure. They are almost certainly the foundations of walls belonging to the outer court of the early 16th century double courtyard house. The north end of the barn has much shallower greensand foundations, and these may be contemporary with the barn construction, perhaps originating in the 18th century. A possible boundary wall that might also belong to the manorial era was identified and also a cobbled surface, which may be the original threshing floor of the barn.
Year: 
2008-9
ID: 
632
NGR: 
TQ326520
Report location: 
SyAS
Borough: