Brandon Park Engine HouseBrandon, SuffolkClient: Brandon Country Park (Breaking New Ground Project)

Date: April 2015

BRD 234Historic Building RecordSACIC Report No. 2015/024Author: M. Sommers© SACIC

Brandon Country Park, Bury Road, Brandon, Suffolk The Engine House and adjacent structure

BRD 234

Historic Building Record

SACIC Report No. 2015/024

Author: M. Sommers

Editor: Dr. R. Gardner

Report Date: April 2015

HER Information

Report Number: 2015/024 Site Name: The Engine House, Brandon Country Park,

Bury Road, Brandon, Suffolk Planning Application No: pre-determination Date of Fieldwork: 8th April 2015 Grid Reference: TL 7867 8501 Client/Funding Body: Brandon Country Park (Breaking New Ground Project) Client Reference: n/a Curatorial Officer: Dr. Richard Hoggett Oasis Reference: suffolka1-208194 Site Code: BRD 234

Digital report submitted to Archaeological Data Service:

http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/library/greylit

Disclaimer

Any opinions expressed in this report about the need for further archaeological work are those of the Field

Projects Team alone. Ultimately the need for further work will be determined by the Local Planning

Authority and its Archaeological Advisors when a planning application is registered. Suffolk County

Council’s archaeological contracting services cannot accept responsibility for inconvenience caused to

the clients should the Planning Authority take a different view to that expressed in the report.

Prepared By: M. Sommers

Date: 14th April 2015

Approved By: Dr R. Gardner

Position: Contracts Manager

Date: 14th April 2015

Signed:

Contents

Summary

1.  Introduction 7 

2.  Topography and landscape 8 

3.  Archaeology and historical background 10 

4.  Methodology 13 

5.  Results 16 

The Engine House 16 

The Bothy 27 

The outbuilding (Building 3) 30 

6.  Archive deposition 30 

7.  Acknowledgements 30 

8.  Plates 31 

List of Figures

Figure 1. Location plan 9 

Figure 2. 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map pub. 1882 11 

Figure 3. 2nd Edition Ordnance Survey map pub. 1905 11 

Figure 4. General arrangement of the buildings and surrounding area 14 

Figure 5. Building elevations (based on drawings by the architect, Tim Buxbaum) 15 

Figure 6. The Engine House – internal detail 18 

Figure 7. The Engine House – arrangement of timbers, shafts and belts 21 

Figure 8. The Bothy and the outbuilding– internal detail 28 

Figure 9. Photographic locations for plates 1 to 19 and 59 to 78 70 

Figure 10. Photograph locations for plates 20 to 58 (interior of Engine House) 71 

List of Plates

Plate 1. General view of the buildings from the south. 31 

Plate 2. Concrete hardstanding and brick floor of former washing shed 31 

Plate 3. Engine House, external view, camera facing northeast 32 

Plate 4. Engine House, external view, camera facing northwest 32 

Plate 5. Engine House, external view, camera facing southwest 33 

Plate 6. Engine House, external view, camera facing east 33 

Plate 7. Engine House window (SE elevation, 2nd window from SW end) 34 

Plate 8. The same window from within the Engine House 34 

Plate 9. Southwest gable wall window, external and internal views 35 

Plate 10. Door in southwest gable, external and internal views 35 

Plate 11. Large battery fragments in Room 1 of the Engine House 36 

Plate 12. Northwest elevation of Engine House showing brick supports 36 

Plate 13. Iron strap securing timber cross tie 37 

Plate 14. Remains of the central glass toplight along the ridge of the roof 37 

Plate 15. Top section of the surviving cast iron drain pipe 38 

Plate 16. Cast iron gutter joining section, Engine House, Room 1 38 

Plate 17. Decorated cast iron vent cover. Engine House southeast elevation 39 

Plate 18. Southern corner of the Engine House’s Room 1 39 

Plate 19. Brick lined openings in northwest elevation of Engine House 40 

Plate 20. General view of the well head and pump driving equipment 40 

Plate 21. General view of the well head and pump driving equipment 41 

Plate 22. Well crankshaft and its northwestern bearing 41 

Plate 23. View looking down the well showing the pump driving crankshaft 42 

Plate 24. Mounting for unknown equipment adjacent to well top 42 

Plate 25. Exposed section of wall in northern corner of Room 1 43 

Plate 26. View down the well showing the crosshead arrangement,

ladder and water pipe 43 

Plate 27. Collection of water pipes emerging from the rear of the well 44 

Plate 28. Toothed wheels driving the well crankshaft and a redundant pulley 44 

Plate 29. High level driveshaft 45 

Plate 30. Fixed and loose pulley mounted on lower driveshaft 45 

Plate 31. System for moving belt between pulleys on lower driveshaft 46 

Plate 32. Pulley and belts connecting the electric motor’s to the high level driveshaft 46 

Plate 33. Manufacturer’s plate on the electric motor 47 

Plate 34. Setting of the electric motor showing the additional cover above

and rafters presumably cut to enable the motor’s installation. 47 

Plate 35. Repair to beam to enable installation of the large diameter pulley for

the electric motor, the timber supports for which can also be seen 48 

Plate 36. Upright timber inserted to provide additional support for the electric motor 48 

Plate 37. A 16hp Hornsby oil engine as seen at Strumpshaw Steam Engine Rally 49 

Plate 38. Probable site of the oil engine with a depression for the flywheel and

a plinth for mounting a mainshaft bearing to the right 49 

Plate 39. Alignment of engine flywheel and the probable dynamo mount 50 

Plate 40. Probable mounting block for the dynamo (plinth 1 in Fig. 6) 50 

Plate 41. View of plinth 3 with the site of the engine and plinth 2 beyond 51 

Plate 42. Alignment of plinth 3 and the southeastern pulley on the low level shaft 51 

Plate 43. Site of water tanks for cooling the oil engine (plinth 4) 52 

Plate 44. Site of former stove or heater as marked by fire-resistant sheeting 52 

Plate 45. Light switch, Engine House Room 1 53 

Plate 46. Switch gear for a modern electric pump in the base of the well 53 

Plate 47. General view of the southwest end of Room 2 showing access doors,

the upright posts and the high opening in the cross wall 54 

Plate 48. Western corner of Room 2 showing the recess in the cross wall

and a large waste oil separator in the foreground 54 

Plate 49. Workbenches against the southeast wall of Room 2 55 

Plate 50. Items on hooks, including the possible piston rings from the oil engine

and the drive belt joiners on the shelf below 55 

Plate 51. General view of the eastern corner of Room 2 showing the saw bench

and the access doors in northeast gable wall 56 

Plate 52. The saw bench in Room 2 56 

Plate 53. The saw bench in Room 2 57 

Plate 54. Alternative belt route through cross wall 57 

Plate 55. Water pipe valve located below floorboards in Room 2 58 

Plate 56. Mysterious fitting/mount below floorboards in Room 2 58 

Plate 57. Collection of drive belts and fire extinguishers 59 

Plate 58. Packaging for ‘anti-gas eyshields’, on workbench in Room 2 59 

Plate 59. The Bothy, external view, camera facing east 60 

Plate 60. The Bothy, external view, camera facing south 60 

Plate 61. The Bothy, external view, camera facing northeast 61 

Plate 62. The Bothy, external view, camera facing southeast 61 

Plate 63. The Bothy, external view, camera facing southwest 62 

Plate 64. The Bothy, external view, camera facing west 62 

Plate 65. The Bothy, showing roof space vent in southeast gable wall 63 

Plate 66. The Bothy, lean-to to rear of main structure 63 

Plate 67. The Bothy, Room 1 (camera facing southeast) 64 

Plate 69. The Bothy, Room 2 (camera facing southwest) 65 

Plate 70. The Bothy, Room 2 (camera facing northeast) 65 

Plate 71. The Bothy, Room 3 (camera facing north) 66 

Plate 72. The Bothy, Room 3 (camera facing east) 66 

Plate 73. The Bothy, cistern in the WC off Room 3 (camera facing northeast) 67 

Plate 75. The outbuilding, external view, camera facing southwest 68 

Plate 76. The outbuilding, external view, camera facing northwest 68 

Plate 77. The outbuilding, internal view showing iron/steel beams within the

roof structure, camera facing northwest 69 

Plate 78. The outbuilding, internal view showing one of the angled vents 69

List of Appendices

Appendix 1.  Brief 

Appendix 2.  OASIS form 

Summary

An English Heritage Level 2 building recording was undertaken of a pair of estate

buildings associated with Brandon Park House. The larger of the two buildings, known

as the Engine House, comprised a single storey structure built of chalk blocks faced in

flint with limited decoration in ‘white’ brick (quoins, chaînes, door and window

surrounds). The structure was rectangular in shape with a single apex roof covered with

corrugated metal sheeting. A top-light formed of glass sheets set along the each side of

the ridge was originally fitted although this is now covered with further sheeting. The

interior of the building is lined with vertical timbers and is divided into two chambers.

One contains a deep well with in-situ pumping equipment that was actuated by rods and

a crank driven via geared wheels, drive shafts and belts, many of which are in place. In

its final phase, the pump was driven by an electric motor but documentary evidence

suggests it was previously powered by an oil engine. The probable base of this former

engine survives along with the concrete/brick plinth for a probable dynamo, which was

also powered by the oil engine. The second chamber housed a workshop and contains

a pair of substantial workbenches along one of the walls and a freestanding bench saw,

which would have been powered, via shafts and belts, by the oil engine, and later the

electric motor, situated in the other chamber. A number of small tools and fittings are

still present within this room along with a redundant drive belts and other miscellaneous

equipment. Map evidence indicates this building was constructed between 1883 and

1905

The second building, known as The Bothy, stands to the northeast of the Engine House

on a perpendicular alignment. It is rectangular in shape with a lean-to and a small

extension to the rear. The walls are built of fletton bricks although the southwest wall,

which faces the area adjacent to the Engine House, is faced with flint and white bricks in

a matching style. The roof is covered with slate with a tiled ridge. Internally the building

is divided in three rooms, the largest of which contains a fireplace, and a small WC. This

building was constructed after 1905. The presence of a bathroom suggests the building

was used for domestic occupation but this represents a later phase of activity.

A third building was also recorded. It comprised a flat roofed rectangular structure built

of fletton bricks a with a flat concrete slab roof It was open at each end although sturdy

doorframes with the remains of substantial door hinges were present indicating doors

had been originally fitted. The date and purpose of this structure are unknown.

7

1. Introduction

An English Heritage Level 2 Building Recording was carried out on a pair of adjacent

buildings located within the estate of Brandon Park House. The two buildings are known

as The Engine House and The Bothy. The Engine House contains a deep well that once

supplied water for the main house and its ancillary buildings. At some point in its history

it contained a dynamo for the generation of electricity for use on the estate. The Bothy is

thought to have been an associated accommodation building.

Brandon Park House dates to the early 1820s and was once the focus of an estate of

c.3000 acres. The house is still extant but is now run as a private nursing home. It is a

Grade II Listed Structure. Most of the original estate is now owned by the Forestry

Commission and maintained as a commercial plantation although a 32 acre area

around the former house is owned by Suffolk County Council and forms Brandon

Country Park, which is managed in partnership with Forest Heath District Council for the

benefit of the general public.

The survey was undertaken on the 8th April 2015, ahead of their proposed

refurbishment. The proposed refurbishment comprises one the projects being

undertaken as part of the Breaking New Ground Landscape Partnership Scheme,

which, with the help of an already secured Heritage Lottery Fund award, aims to deliver

a range of heritage and landscape projects across an area of East Anglia known as the

Brecks. The Engine House and Bothy are currently owned by the Forestry Commission

but will be leased to Suffolk County Council on the understanding they will be restored

and incorporated into the Country Park.

The Breaking New Ground Landscape Project Scheme were informed that the Suffolk

County Council County Conservation Team would recommend that planning permission

be conditional upon an agreed programme of historic building recording work taking

place prior to development. In light of this Suffolk Archaeology Community Interest

Company were commissioned to undertake said recording work in accordance to a Brief

issued by Dr Richard Hoggett of the Conservation Team (Appendix 1). At the time of

writing an application for planning permission is yet to be submitted.

8

The buildings are located on the present edge of Brandon Country Park, Bury Road,

Brandon in an area of woodland. They are located adjacent to the garden area of the

nearby Laundry Cottage. The National Grid reference for the approximate centre of the

Engine House is TL 7867 8501. The Bothy is located immediately to the northeast. See

Figure 1 for a location plan.

A third structure, ‘the outbuilding’, a flat roofed building about the size of domestic

garage, is to be brought back into use as a store as part of this scheme. Its original

purpose is unknown but it is thought to possibly be a military shelter of that could

potentially date back to the Second World War. This building was also included in the

building record.

2. Topography and landscape

The local topography comprises flat or very gently rolling plateaux of freely-draining, but

agriculturally poor, sandy soils. These soils gave rise to the Brecklands landscape type

and once comprised vast areas of open gorse covered heathland, although large parts

have now been converted to arable farmland or large tree plantations.

The underlying geology comprises Cretaceous Chalk overlain by a chalky and flinty drift

geology, which can be up to 3 or 4 metres thick, though it is often thinner on undulating

or sloping ground. The drift deposit is essential a mix of chalk and sand, often mixed

with angular flints, which weathers to give light sandy soils.

The Engine House and Bothy are located in a clearing within an extensive area of

mixed woodland. Much of this woodland is the result of manipulation of the landscape

through the extensive planting of trees on the estate in order to create the 19th century

parkland although the area to the northeast consists primarily of evergreen trees

planted by the Forestry Commission.

The buildings are situated adjacent to the garden of Laundry Cottage, which was

formerly one of the estate houses. It is now the private residence of Mr Barber, a former

Forestry Commission employee who, having worked on the estate for c.40 years plus,

has a wealth of knowledge about the local area. He has also undertaken some personal

research regarding life on the estate.

9

Norfolk

SUFFOLK

Essex

25km0

Figure 1. Location plan

N

Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright 2015

10

3. Archaeology and historical background

The history of the Brandon Park estate is outlined in the Brandon Country Park

Conservation Management Plan (2005) and the Brandon Engine House Conservation

Statement by T. Buxbaum (2013). A brief summary of the history follows below:

The recorded buildings are situated within the estate of Brandon Park House, which was built in its

present form the early 1820s by Edward Bliss. Following his initial purchase of the house he

acquired other land in the area to eventually create an estate of c. 3000 acres. Prior to the

enclosure of Brandon parish in 1810 it had been open heaths and sheep walks. The estate was

managed primarily as a sporting estate for the shooting of game and as such extensive woodland

plantations were established to provide cover along with a series of drives and open rides.

The estate remained in the Bliss family until 1903 when it was purchased by Mr. A. H. Paget, later

Baron Queensborough, who held it for ten years before it was sold to John Aird in 1913 although

he only held it until 1917 when it was purchased by J. B. Kind. Now reduced to just over 1800

acres the park was sold to Lewis Wigan in 1923. He held it until his death in 1935 and it was then

sold to the Forestry Commission in 1936. The house and a small park of 32 acres where leased by

Commission to private individuals whilst the remainder of the estate was turned over to commercial

plantations.

The estate was requisitioned during the Second World War with part of the park being used as a

training ground for the Home Guard. From the late 1950s through to the 1970s the site was used

by the USAF/USAAF.

The Engine House was one of many ancillary buildings constructed to serve the needs

of the estate. It precise date of construction is unknown. It is not marked on the 1st

Edition Ordnance Survey, 1:2500 scale, map of 1882 (Fig. 2) but does appear on the

2nd Edition of 1905 (Fig. 3), suggesting it was built between the two surveys. The Bothy

does not appear either of the maps and is therefore later although its southwest wall is

in a similar style to the Engine House demonstrating a desire to create a harmonious

architectural appearance. It is likely to be contemporary with Laundry Cottage (c. 1910),

which is built of the same fletton brick as the Bothy.

Although the Engine House is not marked on the 1st Edition map there is what appears

to be a square structure that is coincidental with the site of the extant well within the

present building. This could simply be a coincidence although it is more likely to be a

small structure housing the well and suggests it predates the existing Engine House.

11

Figure 2. 1st Edition Ordnance Survey map pub. 1882 (rescaled extract – Engine House and Bothy in red)

Figure 3. 2nd Edition Ordnance Survey map pub. 1905 (rescaled extract – Engine House and Bothy in red)

12

Other, presumably related, structures marked on the 2nd Edition map are the two tanks.

One is circular and lies just to the northwest of the Engine House (marked ‘Tk.’) whilst

the second, which is square in plan, is situated c.50m to the southeast. Neither are

extant although they are marked on relatively modern maps as both structures survived

until at least the earlier 1980s. The square tank was in fact a water tower (as marked in

Fig. 1) whereas the circular tank was a below ground feature (Mr Barber pers. comm.),

the site of which is still visible.

The earliest reference to an ‘Engine House’ on the estate, identified during this survey,

is a listing in a 1921 sales catalogue for the estate, which records ‘Engine House with

Hornsby’s oil engine for generating electric light, Dynamo, Accumulator House, Workshop with

saw bench, Granary, Blacksmiths shop etc.’. There is no mention of a well or pumping

equipment but this may be an oversight as the catalogue does record that many of the

other buildings in the vicinity have ‘water laid on’.

A range of buildings are marked to the south and east of the site of the Engine House

on both the early Ordnance Survey maps. These are likely to originally have originally

been stables although in the 1921 sale catalogue they are probably the buildings

described as ‘The Garage Premises… built of brick with a slated roof. There is a large Motor

Shed capable of holding six cars, with cemented floor. Secondary Garage with pit. Electric light

is installed. Water is laid on. Large covered Washing Shed.’ The long thin building visible

along the northwest side of the range is the covered washing shed, the brick paved floor

of which is still extant in the area adjacent to the Engine House. The broken bases of

cast iron uprights that once supported the glass roof are also visible. There was no

obvious evidence for the other buildings in this group but it is highly likely that below-

ground evidence survives.

The catalogue also states there are three adjoining cottages in this area. An undated

sketch map of the estate (part of Mr Barber’s private collection) records three dwellings,

Garage Cottage, at the northern end of the garage range, Laundry Cottage and Kennels

Cottage, both of which are still extant. The map also marks the Engine House as ‘well

and water pump’ and, more interestingly, the Bothy, as ‘Estate Office, converted to

Bungalow’, which gives an indication of the original purpose of this structure.

13

It is recorded that Paget converted an existing gashouse to cater for electricity

(Buxbaum 2013) but it is not known if this refers to the Engine House or another

building. It is possible that the circular tank close to the Engine House was in fact the

base of a gasholder rather than a water tank, which could suggest that for a period the

Engine House was indeed associated with gas production, although no obvious

evidence for this was identified during the survey. The 2nd Edition map marks an

additional structure adjoining the northwest of the Engine House. This building has been

described as the Accumulator House (for the storage of electricity), as mentioned in the

sales catalogue, but was possibly the site of the gashouse.

What is also clear from the 2nd Edition map is the relationship between the service

buildings and the main house. It can be seen that the service buildings are located in

such a way as to be hidden from the main house by an area of woodland and at a

distance that would negate potential noise pollution but not too far as to be inconvenient

as regards access, although it is unlikely the residents of the house would ever need to

visit the service area as horses/cars etc. would be brought to the house as required.

4. Methodology

To carry out the survey of the structures a series of photographs were taken with an 18

megapixel digital camera that stored the images in a compressed format (jpg).

Photographs were taken of all exterior elevations and of the buildings’ general setting.

Photographs were then taken of each space within the structures and of all pertinent

features or objects located in each space. The interior of both buildings, but particularly

the Engine House, were quite dark necessitating use of the camera’s built in flash.

The client supplied a series of plans and elevations produced by their architect, Tim

Buxbaum, which have been used during the survey and in this report. The elevations

are presented as is, with some minor additions, whilst the floor plans have been have

been digitised to enable the addition of further details that had been recorded in

measured sketch plans made during the survey.

The Engine House (Building 1), The Bothy (Building 2) and the outbuilding (Building 3)

are marked on modern Ordnance Survey maps and this data has been used to provide

a record of their locations.

14

w o

o d

l a

n d

fence

fence

OU

TB

UIL

DIN

G(B

uild

ing

3)

010

m

g r a

s s

TH

E B

OT

HY

(Bui

ldin

g 2)

gras

s

(gar

den

of L

aund

ry C

otta

ge)

(site

of f

orm

er w

ashi

ng sh

ed)

c o

n c

r e

t e

fence

b r

i c k

p

a v

i n g

g r a

s s

fence

EN

GIN

E H

OU

SE

(Bui

ldin

g 1)w o

o d

l a

n d

site

of t

ank

Fig

ure

4. G

ener

al a

rran

gem

ent o

f the

bui

ldin

gs a

nd s

urro

undi

ng a

rea

N

15

Fig

ure

5. B

uild

ing

elev

atio

ns (

base

d on

dra

win

gs b

y th

e ar

chite

ct, T

im B

uxba

um)

16

5. Results

Figure 4 shows the general arrangement of the site and the relationship between the

buildings and Figure 5 are the elevations of both buildings. Figure 4 also shows the

location of the former washing shed (plates 1 and 2) and the position of the nearby tank.

Concrete hardstanding is present along the southeastern edge of the Engine House and

in the area between the Engine House and the Bothy. This did not extend across the

ends of either building, despite the location of the entrances, and no surfaced paths to

these doorways were present.

The Engine House

General description

The building comprised a single storey structure, rectangular in plan, with a single apex

roof running longitudinally (Fig. 6 and plates 3 - 6). It measured approximately 16m by

6m with eaves at a height of 2.2m and the ridge at c.4.5m. The external wall surfaces

were faced in knapped flint with white brick at the quoins, the door and window

surrounds, panel dividing chaines, and along the top of the wall at eaves level. The

actual walls themselves are approximately 400mm thick and formed of chalk blocks.

The internal faces are lined with vertical timber planks fixed to horizontal members let

into the masonry of the walls. The internal space is divided into two rooms by a central

masonry cross wall.

Fenestration comprises metal framed windows with a top hung open casements over

fixed lower lights (plate 7 and 8). There are four of these in the southeast elevation and

one in northwest elevation, although this has been boarded over inside and out. The

tops of the window openings are formed of shallow brick arches and the sills are of

stone. A further, slightly taller and narrower window is centrally located in the southwest

gable wall although this is partly obscured by ivy (plate 9).

Only two entrances are present, one in each gable wall. The entrance in the southwest

gable wall consists of a single, vertical timber door, c.0.75m wide and set into a timber

frame inserted into a brick lined opening with an arched head (plate 10). The

northeastern entrance is significantly wider, at c.2.2m and is closed by a set of three

17

vertical timber doors. A further opening panel runs across the top all three doors to give

additional height to the access (see plates 5 and 51). All are set into a timber frame.

The edges of the opening are formed of brickwork whilst the spanning lintel is a length

of timber although this has become bowed by the weight of the gable above. Decorative

barges boards are present at each gable end but these are partly obscured by ivy.

An opening, blocked by modern blockwork, is present on the northwest wall close to the

western corner of the building. This is located at the point where an additional structure,

as marked on the 2nd edition Ordnance Survey map, was accessed. An area of

concrete hardstanding is present on this side of the building that may have been part of

the internal floor surface or a surfaced area between the two buildings. This lost part of

the building has been described as the location of the ‘Accumulator House’, as recorded

in the 1921 sales catalogue (Mr Barber pers. comm.). The accumulator house would be

for the storage batteries to store surplus electrical charge from the dynamo in order to

provide power when the dynamo was not running. Two fragments of what were

probably large batteries were present within the Room 1 of the Engine House (plate 11)

although their presence may coincidental as these appear to be solid chemical batteries

whereas the accumulators used here would probably be of a lead-acid type.

A ?cast iron beam with a ‘T’ shaped profile is set into the ground adjacent to the eastern

corner. This is presumably not in-situ but may have been put here as an additional

support for the structure after removal of the adjacent building. It may have originated

from the cast iron frame of the demolished washing shed.

Two low brick walls are present on the northwest wall close to the northern corner

(plate 12). These extend for c.1.4m and were approximately 0.45m high. Mortar marks

present on the Engine House wall indicated they had been no higher. They are likely to

be supports for an external tank for an unknown purpose, possible fuel oil or gas.

The roof is covered in corrugated metal sheeting laid on horizontal timber planking

mounted on the rafters. Six timber cross ties are present, which are secured to the wall

plates by iron wrought straps (plate 13). A narrow strip either side of the ridge was once

covered by sheets of glass to provide toplighting to the internal spaces but on the whole

this has been replaced with further sheets of corrugated metal although some areas of

glass are still present towards the northeast end of the building (plate 14).

18

5m0

service channel

site of stove

base (1) ?oil engine

posts

saw bench

tie beams over

concrete floorwooden floor

ROOM 2

door

recess for ?oilengine flywheel

plinth (2)?engine shaft

bearing

low brick walls

bench 1

bench 2

blocked wall

well with cranksand drive shaft

door plinth (1)?dynamo

ROOM 1

plinth (4)?water tanks

service channels

plinth (3)?shaft bearing

base (2)

Figure 6. The Engine House – internal detail

N

19

A plastic gutter runs along part of the southeast wall but this is a later addition. the

original gutters would have probably been cast iron although the only component

surviving in-situ is a cast iron drain pipe fixed to the northern corner of the building

(plate 15). A number of sections of cast iron gutter are stored in the lean-to behind The

Bothy which are said to have originated from the Engine House (Mr Barber pers.

comm.). A small cast iron joining segment, decorated with a lion’s head, and stored in

Room 1 of the Engine House, is also thought to be an original part of the Engine House

guttering (plate 16).

A series of four vents with decorated cast iron grates (plate 17) are mounted just below

the eaves on the southeast wall. There is one vent for each end of the two rooms

although only the one closest to the southwest gable was actually open to the room.

From inside the building it could be closed with a sliding panel (plate 18). The other

three vents appear to be sealed by the internal timber lining which could suggest this is

a later addition to the building and that originally the walls were bare. Exposed areas of

the wall are whitewashed and this treatment could in fact predate the timbering. No

obvious vents are present on the northwest wall although a series of four small

rectangular brick lined openings of an unknown purpose are present at just below level

of the eaves (plate 19).

Room 1, or the Well Room, contains the well and associated pumping equipment (plate

20 and 21). The well itself is a circular brick (or possibly chalk block)-lined shaft

approximately 1m in diameter. Its depth was not measured but it is said to be around

120 feet (c.36.5m). The top of the well is surrounded by a raised rectangular plinth

formed of brick and concrete that stands 0.58m high. Within this two short lengths of

iron girder are fixed and upon these the bearings for a cranked shaft, which runs across

the top of the well, are mounted (plates 22 and 23). A 1.63m wide section of the plinth

extends to the southwest by just over 1m and on the flat surface of this are a series of

vertical threaded rods, some of which have been cut flush with the surface, which

suggest this was a mounting for a piece of unknown equipment (plate 24). It was

presumably associated with a short length of horizontal bar that is fixed by two brackets

on the southwest edge of the plinth.

The floor of this room is covered in red and yellow ceramic tiles which also run up the

sides and across the top of the well head structures. All four of the walls of the room

20

itself are lined with vertical timber planks which continue up to the level of the rafters.

Above this the gable wall and the cross wall are exposed and whitewashed. A low down

rectangular area of the timber boarding is absent on the northwest wall, close to the

northern corner (plate 25). The edges of the adjacent timber boarding are lined with

timber battens indicating this has been done for a specific purpose. What the purpose

was is not immediately apparent although it is coincidental with the service channel that

passes under the wall at this point. A small section wall immediately above the route

service channel has possibly been rebuilt or at least repointed.

The pumping equipment is contained within the well itself and cannot be seen from

ground level. It is presumably comprises three hydraulic rams actuated by rods attached

to the three cranks on the shaft across the top of the well, via connecting rods and a

crosshead mounted on a pair of angle-irons running across the well shaft (plate 26). An

iron ladder, which appears to extend the full depth of the well, is mounted on the iron

straps fixed to the cross angle-irons, which are present at intervals down the well shaft

to support guides for the pump rods. A cast iron pipe, jointed with large bolted flanges,

runs up the side of the well before turning to run horizontally to the northeast within a

service channel set in the floor that is covered with a sheet of steel. Also on this side of

the well a number of other pipes of varying diameters and types that emerge from the

service channel or come up through the floor. They are no longer connected and all

terminate within a relatively short distance (plate 27).

The crankshaft has three cranks that are off-set to each other, presumably at 120˚. The

crankshaft was turned by a large fixed toothed wheel to the southeast side of the well

top that engaged with significantly smaller cog mounted an adjacent shaft (plate 28).

This shaft is driven via a fixed 60cm diameter pulley on the northwest end, which is

turned, via a canvas belt, by a smaller pulley (c.20 cm) fixed to a high level driveshaft

mounted in the rafters (plate 29). A loose pulley is also mounted on the lower shaft and

the belt can be moved across to this by pulling a length of iron with prongs that pass

each side of the belt to disengage the drive (plates 30 and 31), although the

arrangement of this control is rudimentary suggesting it is a later alteration. A pin

hanging on a chain nearby was presumably used to secure this control in position. In

the pump’s final mode of operation, the rafter level driveshaft was driven by a large

electric motor, mounted on timbers in the roof space, via four rubber belts around a

93cm diameter pulley and a smaller pulley on the motor’s axle (plate 32).

21

2m0

high leveldriveshaft

and pulleys

site of oil engine

timber beams inserted tosupport the drive shafts

(marked in black)

shaft with pulleys (projected)mounted on upright posts

saw bench

belt

braces

site of dynamo

belt

low levelshafts and

pulleys

electric motordrivebelts

belt

cut andrepaired

beam

belt transmitting drivebetween high and low

level shafts

openingthrough

cross wall

high levelelectricmotor

Figure 7. The Engine House – arrangement of timbers, shafts and belts (projected fittings in red)

N

22

The relatively high RPM of the electric motor would be greatly reduced at the well

crankshaft by the arrangement of the pulleys and toothed wheels. A manufacturer’s

plate affixed to the motor indicated it was built by Brook Motor Ltd. of Huddersfield

(plate 33) and was a single phase motor with a rotational speed of ?940 rpm. It’s not

clear but there is a possible reference to the year 1957 that would suggest the motor

was this year or later. There is evidence to suggest that the roof was cut away and the

motor inserted from above and the roof then reinstated. An additional sheet of tin was

also fixed over the motor to provide further protection from leaks (plate 34).

To support the high level driveshaft additional cross beams and perpendicular joists

have been built into the roof space. The mounting for the electric motor involved the

insertion of further timbers and a timber plank base over the original beams and the

insertion of an upright timber as additional support. To install the large diameter pulley

for the drive from the electric motor one of the cross beams had a section cut out and

another timber attached to the northeast side of the beam to bridge the gap (plate 35).

Additional holes in the longitudinal beams supporting the high level driveshaft suggest it

was originally located slightly further to the southwest and has been moved to increase

clearance for the motor drivebelts. Figure 7, based on a measured sketch, shows the

arrangement of the roof space timber work built to support the driveshaft and pulleys. It

also attempts to show the relationship between the high and low shafts and the

projected route of transmitting power to the saw bench in Room 2.

A series of wire mesh and timber plank guards are in place over the top of the well and

around the toothed wheels, the pulleys and the belt drive (see plate 28). These have a

modern appearance and are unlikely to be original fittings. They probably relate to the

later installation of the electric motor. It can be seen that the guards around the toothed

wheels and adjacent pulley are fixed to an upright timber that was probably inserted to

help support the weight of the electric motor (plate 36).

A second pulley, 73m in diameter, is also fixed to the rafter level driveshaft (visible in

plate 32). A drive belt hangs loosely on this pulley but it can be clearly seen that this belt

would have originally run through an opening in the cross wall and into the Room 2. An

additional 60cm diameter pulley is also fixed to the southeast end of the lower driveshaft

(visible in plate 28).

23

A group of other plinths or machine bases are present within this room, all of which are

probable associated with the Hornsby oil engine and the electric dynamo that were

recorded in the 1921 sales catalogue. The engine has unfortunately been removed but

examples are still maintained and occasional run by enthusiasts. A Hornsby engine of a

similar size and type to that originally fitted here can be seen in plate 37.

A smooth concrete slab set in the floor bore marks of it having been cast against a

rectangular base that was fixed with a substantial bolt close to each corner which is

probably the site of the oil engine (plate 38). Adjacent to this is a rectangular shaped

depression in the floor for the engine’s flywheel. This flywheel also appears to have also

have been used as the driving pulley for the dynamo, which would have been mounted

on plinth 1 in the southern corner of the room (plates 39 and 40). Plinth 2, adjacent the

flywheel pit, was possibly used to mount an additional bearing to support the oil

engine’s main shaft, which may have been required given the use of the flywheel as a

drive pulley. The large diameter flywheel/pulley would have driven, via a belt, a much

smaller pulley on the dynamo. This arrangement would have increased the dynamo’s

speed, which would need to be relatively high in order to efficiently generate electricity.

It is assumed to the oil engine would also have driven the pump. Although it is not clear

exactly how this was achieved. One possibility is that the engine’s main shaft, or

possibly an additional shaft, could have extended across to a bearing mounted on plinth

3 (plate 41), adjacent the well, and a belt could have then transmitted power to the

otherwise redundant pulley on the southeast end of the well top shaft. There is a gap in

the wire mesh guard which would allow a belt to run in at this point (plate 42). This

would restrict access through the building, although an alternative route would be

available around the northwest side of the well. It is possibly that the drive to the well

from the oil engine could have passed through to the rafter level driveshaft but this

seems unlikely. It was theorized above that the guards were added when the electric

motor was installed. The gap in the guard at this point could indicate that both the

electric motor and the oil engine were in place simultaneously or that this pulley was

used as power take-off point run a drive belt to some other piece of equipment that may

have been associated with plinth 3 (or on the well head plinth to the southwest). The

base of some other unknown piece of equipment is located to the northwest of plinth 3,

which could also be associated.

24

The fourth mounting block, plinth 4, is probably the site of one or two water tanks that

would have been used for cooling the oil engine (plate 43). A pair of pipes are mounted

on the cross wall which would have run to the tanks via the service channel to the

southeast and from there to the oil engine. A pair of small pulleys are mounted on

beams at the level of the rafters. The purpose of which may have been to provide

access to a control valve on the water tanks or, more likely, were associated with a

simple water level indicator using a rope, one end of which was attached to a float in the

tank and the other to a pointer that ran up and down a scale.

A heat resistant cladding material had been added to the building’s timber lining in the

eastern corner of Room 1 indicating that a stove had once stood in this location

(plate 44). The hole where the flue passed through the roof had been repaired

externally with an additional piece of corrugated metal sheeting.

Various phases of electric wiring to provide lighting and power sockets were present in

the building. The exposed grey wiring appeared to be relatively modern, whilst the

earlier wiring was contained in steel pipes or ducts and appeared to be related only to

lighting circuits. One feature of interest was a surviving early light switch mounted on a

wooden block adjacent to the blocked wall on the northwest wall of Room 1 (plate 45). It

clearly was originally one of a pair as wiring is visible although the upper fitting had

been removed.

The later wiring appeared to be contemporary with a significantly later electric pump that

was thought to have been fitted by the Forestry Commission (Mr Barber pers. comm.).

The pump itself appeared to be suspended down the well by its electrical flex (visible in

plates 23 and 26), although it may have been secured in place at the base of the well,

and pumped water up a black plastic pipe. The electric flex was looped over the rafters

before running down to a pair of electrical switch boxes mounted on the southeast wall

(plate 46), identified as having been fitted by FHV Hewson and Son, water engineers of

Thetford, before running back to a three-pin electrical socket mounted on the inserted

vertical timber adjacent the well. This arrangement was temporary in appearance

although the equipment was still place.

25

Room 2 could be accessed from Room 1 via openings on either side of the cross wall,

each of which was fitted with a door. The opening in the cross wall on the southeast

side of the building was significantly larger but had been reduced to a single door’s

width by timber infill. The door in the northeast frame was formed of vertical timbers

suggesting it was an original fitting; the other door was paneled suggesting a domestic

origin (both visible in plate 47). A rectangular recess, lined with timber and presumably

for storage, was set in the cross wall adjacent to the southwest door (plate 48).

This room, like Room 1, was also lined in vertical timber planks although a large section

of this was missing in the northern corner of the room. The horizontal members set into

the masonry of the wall were still in-situ suggesting the vertical boarding had once been

present in this area. The floor in the southwest half of the room is formed of stout

wooden planks on joists whilst the remainder of the floor is concrete.

This room was clearly fitted out as a workshop with two stout benches positioned along

the northwest wall (plate 49). The larger bench was free standing whilst the smaller

bench was fixed to the wall and supported on a single upright. The wall fixing was

achieved by two substantial bolts that passed through the wall of the building and were

secured to a timber placed against the outer face of the wall (visible in plate 12). Other

than a pipe bending vice fitted to the smaller bench no other equipment was present

although a rectangular shaped depression was present in the top of the smaller bench,

which presumably related to some specific piece of equipment or activity.

A length of timber with numerous drilled holes that would have held tools was mounted

to the wall behind the benches and above this numerous hooks were present, upon

which miscellaneous cables, wires and other fittings, mostly car related, were hanging.

Of interest with regards this building was a collection of steel ‘combs’ used for joining

sections of the drive belts (plate 50) and a collection of split steel rings (c.0.19 dia.),

which were hanging on a hook. It was suggested these may be piston rings from the oil

engine (Mr Barber pers. comm.). Further similar rings were hanging from a hook on the

southwest wall along with other tools and fittings, all of which appear to reflect the

building’s more recent use.

The main feature of this room is the large saw bench which is bolted to the concrete

floor close to the doors in the northeast gable wall (plate 51). The main body of the

26

bench comprises large single casting in iron/steel. The casting includes the sides of the

bench, the flat top, and a pair of mounts for a guide bar at the southwest end. The text,

‘T ROBINSON AND SON LIMITED ROCHDALE ENGLAND’, is formed by raised letters

on the northwest side of the casting (plate 52). A channel, covered by a close fitting

steel plate, runs across the top if the bench within which the main axle for the large

circular saw blade is fitted. A vertical casting attached to the bar at the southwest end of

the bench is used to guide the timber to be sawn and this can be adjusted to alter the

width of the resultant planks. A large casting to support the end of the main axle and

two pulleys, one fixed and one loose, bolts onto the southeast edge of the bench (plate

53). A handle is present on the northwest bench frame which controls the position of the

drive belt. A large circular saw blade is fitted, which, when viewed from the northwest,

rotates clockwise. Consequently the timber to be sawn would be fed in from the

southwest end of the bench. Two spare blades are hanging on the wall nearby.

Openings in the base of the saw bench casting were closed with timber panels held in

place by lengths of iron. These would trap the saw dust within the saw bench and

prevent it from flying around the room although it would need to be manually emptied.

The saw bench would have been powered via belts and shafts from Room 1, the

probable arrangement of which is depicted in Figure 7. Drive came from the high level

shaft in Room 1 via a belt that passed through a timber-lined opening (c.1.2m by 0.7m)

in the cross wall. A pair of the supporting beams also pass though this hole and bear on

a pair of cross beams. The belt is still present but is now hanging loosely on the pulley

in Room 1. The remainder of the drive route has been removed but would have

consisted of a secondary shaft mounted on brackets fixed to a pair of upright posts

(visible in plate 47), and a further belt that then ran to the pulleys on the saw bench

itself. The belt to the saw bench was relatively lengthy and would have needed to be

correctly tensioned to reduce slippage. This would have put a pulling strain of the

upright posts, both of which, but particularly the post adjacent to the driving pulley, have

had braces added to secure them in place.

The route of the belt from Room 1 is presumably an alteration to that that originally

employed. A second opening through the cross wall has been formed below the main

opening to enable the lower loop of the belt to pass through. This opening is not lined

and as the belt passed through it has worn grooves on the sides (plate 54). The main

opening is 2.7m above floor level whilst the additional opening is 0.17m high and 2.1m

27

above floor level suggesting the pulley on the missing shaft was at least 0.6m in

diameter. This alteration is probably related to rearrangements of the shafts and pulleys

to enable the installation of the electric motor in Room 1.

Other features of note in this room is a valve on what is presumable the main water pipe

from the well. It is located under the floorboards and was accessed by removing a small

section of boarding (plate 55). Another small section of the floorboards could be lifted in

the area adjacent to the large work bench which revealed a circular section of timber

with a bored central hole set upright into the ground (plate 56), the purpose of which

was not immediately apparent.

An amount of assorted loose equipment was present within the room. It comprised a

large vertical tank for the separation of waste oils (visible in plate 48), spare belts, which

probably includes the belt to drive the saw bench (plate 57), a large water control valve

and a collection of valve taps. Also present throughout both rooms are a number of fire

extinguishers of various types and vintages, some of which were fitted to the walls for

actual use. One artefact of note was a packet that once contained ‘anti-gas eyeshields’

(plate 58), that presumably relates to the military occupation of the site.

The Bothy

General description

The building comprised a single storey structure, rectangular in plan, measuring

approximately 10m by 4.7m with a 3m by 2.5m wing or extension to the rear (Fig. 8 and

plates 59 - 64). It measured approximately 16m by 6m with eaves at a height of 2.5m

and the ridge at c.4.4m. The building is primarily constructed of a pale orange-brown

fletton bricks although the southwest wall, which lies perpendicular to the main axis of

the Engine House, is faced in knapped flint with white brick at the quoins and window

surrounds in a similar style so that the buildings, which form a corner to the yard area to

the south, have a uniform appearance. The roof is slate and a simply decorated brick

chimney stack, which serves a single fireplace in the main room, emerges from the

ridge. The roof space itself is vented via cast iron grates in each gable wall (plate 65). A

timber lean-to is present at the rear of the building, which is covered by an extension of

the main roof (plate 66). A break in the roofline timber, hidden behind a later

bargeboard, suggests this is a later addition to the structure.

28

OU

TB

UIL

DIN

G

5m0

ven

ts

ba

th

fence

RO

OM

2

RO

OM

3

sin

k

toile

t(s

ite o

f)d

oor

low

bric

k w

alls

RO

OM

1

lea

n to

fire

plac

e

TH

E B

OT

HY

Fig

ure

8. T

he B

othy

and

the

outb

uild

ing–

inte

rnal

det

ail

N

29

The internal space is divided by brick built walls into three main rooms, and a small WC,

accessed via the rear room. The internal wall surfaces in Rooms 1 and 2 are plastered

but are painted bare brick in the Room 3 and the small water closet (WC). Access to the

building is via a single door in the northwest gable wall. Windows are present on the

northwest gable wall, the southeast wall and on the northeast gable wall of the rear

wing. All windows are metal framed, except in the rear room, which is wooden.

Room 1, the largest of the three spaces, was rectangular in shape with a single

fireplace, devoid of grate, in the southeast wall (plate 67). The floor is of concrete, which

slopes gently to a central drain, and a pair of low walls are present in the western corner

(plate 68). These features are related to the recent history of the building when it was

used as pens for dog breeding. Other than modern furniture and debris the room is

empty.

Room 2, access via a vertical timbered door from Room 1. It is rectangular in shape

and relatively featureless (plates 69 and 70). An electrical switch on the southeast wall

may have been for a cooker suggesting this area may have been used as a kitchen.

The concrete floor has been broken up but is still present as rubble. The ceiling is

boarded with timber planks.

Room 3 is situated in the rear wing/extension and is accessed from Room 2 via a two

paneled wooden door with an upper glass insert. The walls are painted bare brick,

although the lower sections of the northeast and northwest walls were originally clad in

board fixed to wooden battens, most of which been removed and is lying fragmented on

the floor (plate 71). The ceiling is boarded with timber planks similar to Room 2. A

modern steel bath is situated in the eastern corner (plate 72) and a modern ceramic

sink is fixed to the northeast wall below the window. An electric water heater is mounted

on the wall in the northern corner. The floor is concrete and was covered in a pale red

linoleum. A door is present in the western corner of the room which leads into a small

WC. The walls are painted brick, the ceiling is low and formed of a section of board

against the underside of the sloping roof. The floor is similar to the Room 3. A small

window is present in the northeast wall but this is partially obscured by a cast-iron

cistern, named, ‘The Burlington’ (plate 73). A second window is present in the northwest

wall but this looks into the lean-to and the glass has been painted over (plate 74), which

could be seen as further evidence the lean-to is later. The toilet pan is missing.

30

The outbuilding (Building 3)

General description

A small rectangular building about the size of domestic garage. Measures

approximately 4.8m by 2.9m and stands approximately 2m high. Built of fletton bricks

with a buttress at each corner (plates 75 and 76). Open both ends with a robust steel

door frame upon which are mounted hinge pins that suggest a pair of substantial doors

was originally fitted at each end; these are now missing. The roof is concrete probably

cast in-situ between steel joists that span the width of the building Plate 77). At each

corner an angled vent runs through the wall (plate 78) terminating in a grate, all four of

which are broken away. The vents alternate between high and low levels on each wall

and at each end.

The purpose and date of this building is not obvious. It has been speculated that it may

date from the Second World War. Given the construction methods, the door frames and

the angled vents, this is entirely possible.

6. Archive deposition

Paper, digital and photographic archive will be sent to the County HER, ref. BRD 234.

A copy of the report will be uploaded to the OASIS on-line database (suffolka1-208194).

7. Acknowledgements

The building record was carried out by Mark Sommers from the Suffolk County Council

Archaeological Service, Field Team. The project was managed by Dr. Rhodri Gardner,

who also provided advice during the production of the report.

Special thanks also go to Mr Bill Barber, resident of the adjacent Laundry Cottage, for

his help and access to the results of his personal research and his recollections of life

on the estate. Also, to Nick Dickson, The Breaking New Ground Project Manager, for

his help and assistance.

31

8. Plates

Plate 1. General view of the buildings from the south. The brick floor of the former washing shed is visible in the foreground

Plate 2. Concrete hardstanding and brick floor of former washing shed

32

Plate 3. Engine House, external view, camera facing northeast

Plate 4. Engine House, external view, camera facing northwest

33

Plate 5. Engine House, external view, camera facing southwest

Plate 6. Engine House, external view, camera facing east

34

Plate 7. Engine House window (SE elevation, 2nd window from SW end) showing iron frame set in brick surround with stone sill. Note the slot cut in sill

Plate 8. The same window from within the Engine House

35

Plate 9. Southwest gable wall window, external and internal views

Plate 10. Door in southwest gable, external and internal views

36

Plate 11. Large battery fragments in Room 1 of the Engine House

Plate 12. Northwest elevation of Engine House showing brick supports. The brace for the fixed

bench in Room 2 is also visible

37

Plate 13. Iron strap securing timber cross tie, as seen in Room 2 of the Engine House

Plate 14. Remains of the central glass toplight along the ridge of the roof

38

Plate 15. Top section of the surviving cast iron drain pipe

Plate 16. Cast iron gutter joining section, Engine House, Room 1

39

Plate 17. Decorated cast iron vent cover. Engine House southeast elevation

Plate 18. Southern corner of the Engine House’s Room 1 showing the sliding vent cover

40

Plate 19. Brick lined openings in northwest elevation of Engine House

Plate 20. General view of the well head and pump driving equipment (camera facing north)

41

Plate 21. General view of the well head and pump driving equipment (camera facing west)

Plate 22. Well crankshaft and its northwestern bearing (camera facing east)

42

Plate 23. View looking down the well showing the pump driving crankshaft

Plate 24. Mounting for unknown equipment adjacent to well top (camera facing northwest)

43

Plate 25. Exposed section of wall in northern corner of Room 1

Plate 26. View down the well showing the crosshead arrangement, ladder and water pipe

44

Plate 27. Collection of water pipes emerging from the rear of the well

Plate 28. Toothed wheels driving the well crankshaft and a redundant pulley (camera facing northwest)

45

Plate 29. High level driveshaft (camera facing east)

Plate 30. Fixed and loose pulley mounted on lower driveshaft

46

Plate 31. System for moving belt between pulleys on lower driveshaft

Plate 32. Pulley and belts connecting the electric motor’s to the high level driveshaft

47

Plate 33. Manufacturer’s plate on the electric motor

Plate 34. Setting of the electric motor showing the additional cover above and rafters presumably cut to enable the motor’s installation.

48

Plate 35. Repair to beam to enable installation of the large diameter pulley for the electric motor, the timber supports for which can also be seen

Plate 36. Upright timber inserted to provide additional support for the electric motor

49

Plate 37. A 16hp Hornsby oil engine as seen at Strumpshaw Steam Engine Rally in 2003

Plate 38. Probable site of the oil engine with a depression for the flywheel and a plinth for mounting a mainshaft bearing to the right

50

Plate 39. Alignment of engine flywheel and the probable dynamo mount, visible in the distance

Plate 40. Probable mounting block for the dynamo (plinth 1 in Fig. 6)

51

Plate 41. View of plinth 3 with the site of the engine and plinth 2 beyond

Plate 42. Alignment of plinth 3 and the southeastern pulley on the low level shaft

52

Plate 43. Site of water tanks for cooling the oil engine (plinth 4) note vertical water pipes visible behind the wooden ladder

Plate 44. Site of former stove or heater as marked by fire-resistant sheeting affixed to the wall

53

Plate 45. Light switch, Engine House Room 1

Plate 46. Switch gear for a modern electric pump in the base of the well, southeast wall of Room 1 in the Engine House

54

Plate 47. General view of the southwest end of Room 2 showing access doors, the upright posts and the high opening in the cross wall

Plate 48. Western corner of Room 2 showing the recess in the cross wall and a large waste oil separator in the foreground

55

Plate 49. Workbenches against the southeast wall of Room 2

Plate 50. Items on hooks, including the possible piston rings from the oil engine and the drive belt joiners on the shelf below

56

Plate 51. General view of the eastern corner of Room 2 showing the saw bench and the access doors in northeast gable wall

Plate 52. The saw bench in Room 2 (camera facing southeast)

57

Plate 53. The saw bench in Room 2 (camera facing north)

Plate 54. Alternative belt route through cross wall suggesting an alteration to the originally intended arrangement

58

Plate 55. Water pipe valve located below floorboards in Room 2

Plate 56. Mysterious fitting/mount below floorboards in Room 2

59

Plate 57. Collection of drive belts and fire extinguishers in the southern corner of Room 2

Plate 58. Packaging for ‘anti-gas eyshields’, on workbench in Room 2

60

Plate 59. The Bothy, external view, camera facing east

Plate 60. The Bothy, external view, camera facing south

61

Plate 61. The Bothy, external view, camera facing northeast

Plate 62. The Bothy, external view, camera facing southeast

62

Plate 63. The Bothy, external view, camera facing southwest

Plate 64. The Bothy, external view, camera facing west

63

Plate 65. The Bothy, showing roof space vent in southeast gable wall

Plate 66. The Bothy, lean-to to rear of main structure

64

Plate 67. The Bothy, Room 1 (camera facing southeast)

65

Plate 69. The Bothy, Room 2 (camera facing southwest)

Plate 70. The Bothy, Room 2 (camera facing northeast)

66

Plate 71. The Bothy, Room 3 (camera facing north)

Plate 72. The Bothy, Room 3 (camera facing east)

67

Plate 73. The Bothy, cistern in the WC off Room 3 (camera facing northeast)

68

Plate 75. The outbuilding, external view, camera facing southwest

Plate 76. The outbuilding, external view, camera facing northwest

69

Plate 77. The outbuilding, internal view showing iron/steel beams within the roof structure, camera facing northwest

Plate 78. The outbuilding, internal view showing one of the angled vents, camera facing north

70

64

OU

TB

UIL

DIN

G(B

uild

ing

3)

TH

E B

OT

HY

(Bui

ldin

g 2) 65

75

76

77

78

010

m

4

68

67

69

70

71

72

73

74

63

66

61

5

13

59

60

62

10

1

2

7

8

11

17

EN

GIN

E H

OU

SE

(Bui

ldin

g 1)

12

14

15

19

3

6

9

9

101618

Fig

ure

9. P

hoto

grap

h lo

catio

ns f

or p

late

s 1

to 1

9 an

d 59

to

78

N

71

5m

49

47

52

53

5848

50 51

42

54 55

57

21

3536

39

44

0

20

43

31

33

27

25

32

34

56

46

24

2838

2930

41

22

23, 26

40

45

Figure 10. Photograph locations for plates 20 to 58 (interior of Engine House)

N

Appendix 1. Brief

The Archaeological Service

Economy, Skills and Environment

9–10 The Churchyard, Shire Hall

Bury St Edmunds

Suffolk

IP33 1RX

Brief for Historic Building

Recording at

THE OLD ENGINE HOUSE, BRANDON COUNTRY PARK

Planning Authority: Forest Heath District Council

Planning Application Number: TBC

HER No. for this Project: To Be Arranged

Development Proposal: Restoration and construction of link

This Brief Issued By: Dr Richard Hoggett, Archaeological Officer

Tel. : 01284 741226

E-mail: richard.hoggett@suffolk.gov.uk

Date: 16 March 2015

1 Summary 1.1 The Local Planning Authority (LPA) will be advised that any planning consent

should be conditional upon an agreed programme of historic building recording work taking place before development in accordance with a Written Scheme of Investigation which has been submitted to and approved in writing by the LPA.

1.2 A Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) based upon this brief and specification must be produced by the developers, their agents or archaeological contractors and submitted to the Conservation Team of Suffolk County Council’s Archaeological Service (SCCAS/CT) for scrutiny. SCCAS/CT is the advisory body to the LPA on archaeological issues.

1.3 Following receipt of the WSI, SCCAS/CT will advise the Local Planning Authority (LPA) if it is an acceptable scheme of work. Work must not commence until the LPA has approved the WSI. Neither this specification nor the WSI is, however, a sufficient basis for the discharge of the planning condition relating to the building recording work. Only the full implementation of the approved scheme – that is, the completion of the building recording and the production and deposition of an acceptable report – will enable SCCAS/CT to advise the LPA that the condition has been adequately fulfilled and can be discharged.

1.4 The WSI should be approved before costs are agreed with the commissioning client, in line with Institute for Archaeologists’ guidance. Failure to do so could result in additional and unanticipated costs.

1.5 The WSI will provide the basis for measurable standards and will be used to establish whether the requirements of the planning condition will be adequately met. If the approved WSI is not carried through in its entirety the report may be rejected.

2 Archaeological Background 2.1 Brandon Park House, set in a country estate of extensive parkland, was built in

1826 by Edward Bliss. The house was supplied by water, and then later electricity, from a separate Engine House. This building survives today, with much of its original machinery, and is a great example of a late 19th-century functional building.

3 Brief for Historic Building Recording 3.1 Historic building recording and analysis is to be carried out prior to the

commencement of works so that the affected building(s) can be recorded in their unaltered state.

3.2 The objective will be to compile a descriptive record of the affected buildings at English Heritage’s Level 2, as described in Understanding Historic Buildings: A Guide to Good Recording Practice (English Heritage 2006), before development of the buildings takes place.

3.3 The academic objective will be to provide a detailed understanding of the nature of the buildings, and to provide the historical context, development and significance of the building group.

3.4 This brief remains valid for 12 months. If work is not carried out in full within that time this document will lapse; the brief may need to be revised and re-issued to take account of new discoveries, changes in policy and techniques.

4 Specification for the Historic Building Recording 4.1 The survey methodology will form part of the WSI and is to be agreed in detail

before the project commences; defined minimum criteria in this outline are to be met or exceeded. Any variation from these standards can only be made by agreement with SCCAS/CT, and must be confirmed in writing.

4.2 English Heritage Level 2 recording must be carried on the buildings and their setting. Both the exterior and interior will be viewed, described and photographed. Any distinctive features must be both described and photographed.

4.3 A block plan must be produced of the site, to locate the buildings within the group. The main components of the complex shall be numbered for reference in the report.

4.4 An historical document search (documentary, cartographic and pictorial) must be undertaken to situate the history of the building complex within its immediate local context. This must include a map study to illustrate the development of the buildings complex – typically using the tithe assessment of the 1840s and Ordnance Survey mapping of the 1880s and early 1900s (all available in the Suffolk Record Office). Note must also be taken of the oral history of the complex, particularly relating to the historic use of the buildings.

4.5 The record will present conclusions regarding the location, form, date, development and use of the buildings.

5 Arrangements for Historic Building Recording 5.1 The composition of the contractor’s staff must be detailed and agreed by

SCCAS/CT, including any subcontractors/specialists.

5.2 All arrangements for the recording of the building, the timing of the work and access to the site, are to be defined and negotiated by the archaeological contractor with the commissioning body.

5.3 The project manager must also carry out a risk assessment and ensure that all potential risks are minimised, before commencing the fieldwork. The responsibility for identifying any constraints on fieldwork rests with the commissioning body and its archaeological contractor.

5.4 Reporting and Archival Requirements

5.5 The project manager must consult the Suffolk HER Officer to obtain an event number for the work. This number will be unique for each project or site and must be clearly marked on all documentation relating to the work.

5.6 All parts of the OASIS online form http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/project/oasis/ must be completed and a copy must be included in the final report and also with the site archive. A digital copy of the report should be uploaded to the OASIS website.

5.7 The report should include a brief history of the buildings complex, relating it to the map study and should include illustrations of the maps at a sufficient scale and quality for the buildings to be identifiable. Please remember that copyright permissions should be sought from the Suffolk Record Office, and/or other document owners or holders, for items included in the report. The report should include a description of the building fabric(s), their structural use and any particular features. It should also present the available evidence for the dating and use of the structure(s). The photographs should be listed with a description of the viewpoint and included on a CD to accompany the report.

5.8 A copy of the report, clearly marked DRAFT, should be presented to SCCAS/CT for approval within six months of the completion of fieldwork unless other arrangements are negotiated with the project sponsor and SCCAS/CT.

5.9 Following approval of the report by SCCAS/CT, a single copy of the report should be presented to the Suffolk HER as well as a digital copy of the approved report.

5.10 An archive of all records is to be prepared consistent with the principles contained in Understanding Historic Buildings: A Guide to Good Recording Practice (English

Heritage 2006), particularly section 7. This should be deposited with the County HER within six months of the completion of work. It will then become publicly accessible.

5.11 Where positive results are drawn from a project, a summary report must be prepared for the Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History.

6 Standards and Guidance 6.1 Detailed standards, information and guidance to supplement this brief are to be

found in Understanding Historic Buildings: A Guide to Good Recording Practice (English Heritage 2006), which defines the different levels of recording recommended by English Heritage.

6.2 The Institute for Archaeologist’s Standard and Guidance for the Archaeological Investigation and Recording of Standing Buildings or Structures (Institute for Archaeologists 2001) should be used for additional guidance in the execution of the project and in drawing up the report.

6.3 Technical standards, applicable to detailed survey, are covered in Measured and Drawn: Techniques and Practice for the Metric Survey of Historic Buildings (English Heritage 2006).

6.4 Standards, information and advice to supplement this brief are to be found in Gurney, D. and Bryant, S. (2003) Standards for Field Archaeology in the East of England, East Anglian Archaeology Occasional Papers 14.

7 Notes 7.1 The Institute for Archaeologists maintains a list of registered archaeological

contractors (http://www.archaeologists.net/ro or 0118 378 6446). There are a number of archaeological contractors that regularly undertake work in the County and SCCAS will provide advice on request. SCCAS/CT does not give advice on the costs of archaeological projects.

Appendix 2. OASIS form

OASIS ID: suffolka1-208194

Project details

Project name Brandon Park Engine House

Short description of the

project

Historic building record of late 19th century estate buildings - primarily an engine

house with well, pumping equipment and other misc. machinery

Project dates Start: 07-04-2015 End: 20-04-2015

Previous/future work No / Not known

Any associated project

reference codes

BRD 234 - HER event no.

Type of project Building Recording

Current Land use Other 2 - In use as a building

Monument type WELL Post Medieval

Significant Finds NONE None

Methods & techniques '''Annotated Sketch''','''Measured Survey''','''Photographic Survey'''

Prompt National Planning Policy Framework - NPPF

Project location

Country England

Site location SUFFOLK FOREST HEATH BRANDON The Engine House, Brandon Park, Bury

Road

Study area 180.00 Square metres

Site coordinates TL 7867 8501 52.433388072 0.628549533575 52 26 00 N 000 37 42 E Point

Project creators

Name of Organisation Suffolk Archaeology CIC

Project brief originator Local Authority Archaeologist and/or Planning Authority/advisory body

Project design originator Suffolk Archaeology Community Interest Company

Project

director/manager

Rhodri Gardner

Project supervisor Mark Sommers

Type of sponsor/funding

body

Developer

Project archives

Physical Archive Exists? No

Digital Archive recipient Suffolk HER

Digital Archive ID BRD 234

Digital Contents ''other''

Digital Media available ''Images raster / digital photography'',''Text''

Paper Archive recipient Suffolk HER

Paper Archive ID BRD 234

Paper Contents ''other''

Paper Media available ''Correspondence'',''Plan'',''Report''

Project bibliography 1

Publication type Grey literature (unpublished document/manuscript)

Title Historic Building Record: Brandon Park Engine House, Brandon, Suffolk

Author(s)/Editor(s) Sommers, M.

Other bibliographic

details

SACIC Report No. 2015/024

Date 2015

Issuer or publisher SACIC

Place of issue or

publication

Needham Market

Description Printed sheets of A4 paper with card covers and a plastic comb binding

Entered by MS (mark.sommers@suffolkarchaeology.co.uk)

Entered on 20 April 2015

Suffolk Archaeology CIC Unit 5 | Plot 11 | Maitland Road | Lion Barn Industrial Estate Needham Market | Suffolk | IP6 8NZ Rhodri.Gardner@suffolkarchaeology.co.uk 01449 900120 www.suffolkarchaeology.co.uk