Pictures of buildings mentioned in the “Suffolk” volume of “The Buildings of England” series by Sir Nikolaus Pevsner.  Tudor Georgian

A village with no public roads but fortunately some rights of way.  As it is fairly isolated a picture is included of the Church.  Its most famous building, Little Wenham Hall, is largely hidden from view although the castellations are shown here.  The Hall was built c1270-80 and is of “great historical importance”, notable for being an early use of English brick and for being of the period where the transition from Castle to Manor House was in progress (one of the earliest three in England).

The barn is no longer thatched.

In Brick Building in England, by Jane A Wight, the first work on Mediaeval English bricks it says “Once believed bricks must have been imported - via Ipswich, a major port - from Flanders.  Certainly Flanders influence may be detected in small size of bricks, and Flemish craftsmen could have made them.  (Flemings began to settle in East Anglia as early as C12, though peaks were later, in mid C14 and C15).  Overwhelmingly probable that these yellow bricks were made of local comparatively chalky clay (gault).  ... Important architecturally as well as for use of brick. ... Hall erected as house of a knight, not as a castle keep. ... Despite moat, thick walls - with more narrow lancets to ground floor - and battlements, essentially small dwelling.  ...  Protected but only battlements have any semblance of the aggressive (one recorded attack, though, took place during the Wars of Roses.  Then owner, Gilbert Debenham, ‘Lord of Little Wenham’ , was notorious lawbreaker and extortioner.  Debenhams had held manor from C14. Central boss of chapel vault represents St Petronilla, apocryphal ‘little daughter’ of St Peter.  This dedication is extremely rare, but Whepsted Church (Suffolk) also has it.  Little Wenham Hall attributed to Sir John de Vallibus, but manor inherited in 1287 by Petronilla of Nerford (or Narford), and chapel dedication suggests work was not complete by that date. ... Brick sizes vary. ... Colours vary too. ... Remarkable survival, and a reproach to repeaters of the legend of dearth of mediaeval bricks brick in England.”