blackthorpe barn
THE BLACKTHORPE BARN WAS BUILT ROUND 1550, PROBABLY BY JOHN DRURY WHO HAD JUST
ACQUIRED THE MANOR OF ROUGHAM THROUGH THE DISSOLUTION OF THE GREAT BENEDICTINE
ABBEY AT BURY ST. EDMUNDS IN 1539. It is timber framed with a vast, striking
thatched roof measuring over 30 metres long. The barn’s purpose was to be used
for the threshing and storage of grain and it continued as a grain store until
1985. You can read more about the barn’s history here. These days the threshing
barn and the surrounding buildings are used for events including the festive
craft market at Christmas and other art exhibitions during the year, as well as
for weddings in the summer months. The Courtyard Café is regularly open at the
weekends and other events take place during the year; see the events calendar or
follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see what’s on.
