Abbey Cottages and Barns, Monksgate

Another of Thetford’s heritage assets soon to disappear?

The 8th February 2010 was a sad day for the Thetford Society and our town. It was the day that the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government decided to sentence the Abbey Barns to a future as a residential development. Many members and residents do not share the conclusions reached by the Inspector but he is governed by the various Government policies which emphasise the need to build, build, build.

For those of us who backed the campaign to add the Barns to the rich heritage of Thetford’s past the decision was, unfortunately, predictable yet disappointing. What a wonderful facility this site could have provided together with the Priory and its Gatehouse. The Barns displayed as an interpretation and visitor centre could have been stunning. These unique buildings will now become just another housing development.

One of the galling aspects to this whole saga was the role of Breckland District Council who inherited the site, free of charge, from the Thetford Borough Council in 1974. Over the years the buildings were allowed to deteriorate and so Breckland decided to sell. If there had been a visionary with the interest and the will to draw up a sustainable scheme then this site could have been the show piece of Thetford’s heritage along with the refurbished Ancient House Museum. Alas monetary considerations won the day.

As you may know, Breckland Council sold the site and an extra parcel of amenity land for £255,000 back in 2003. The parcel of land was granted planning permission by Breckland and was sold on for £110,000. The Abbey Barns site now has planning permission and is on the market for a very optimistic £1,000,000! Why Breckland Council did not consider applying for planning permission itself and subsequently getting this higher asking price remains a mystery and, on the face of it, does not seem prudent use of our community assets.

We now hope that the new generation of decision makers on the Moving Thetford Forward Board will see the potential benefits that this site, together with its associated Priory, could make to the regeneration of Thetford. The Thetford Society still wish to be involved in the development of this heritage asset and are looking at a range of options. However, once building work begins on a residential site then there will be no hope of providing Thetford with a unique attraction and these centuries old buildings will be consigned to the dust bin of progress.

Stuart Wilson, Chairman, Environmental Committee March 2010

GRADE I ABBEY FARM BARN

MEDIEVAL CROWN POST, IN GRADE I BARN

GRADE I ABBEY FARM BARN

GRADE I ABBEY FARM COTTAGES