Sheepcote Hall or Farm (tm 607)
A very poor quality image of Sheepcote Hall in the 1970s.
Unsure of exact date for this map {SLHG Archives ECA/Maps}, possibly mid- nineteenth century. It shows the location of Sheepcote Farm, though it is now called Sheep Gate Hall and sits at the southern end of Mill Street at a T-junction with Mill Lane heading to the Creetings.
The 1469 will of John Lee mentions 3 acres in Thorney Sheepcote ‘ to John Lee my son a messuage in which he lives called BELLYS with 2 closes & 10 acres land at WESTMERSHHEYTH & 3 acres at THORNEY SHCHEPCOTE {sic}’ (ECA)
1505 the will of Robert Reydon, gent of Creeting St Peter refers to ‘my place called Jacobs – Ena Carter says this is Sheepcote Hall. It is to go to Thos Reve (&his wife Margery) of Earl Stonham with land in Aldamys . In the 1462 will of William Greene of Creeting St Peter Aldmanys was a tenement that went to John Andrew Baylham.
1568 “Shepecote house wherein Edmond Wells nowe dwelleth”
{taken from notes made by Neil Langridge (in 2024) of a description of the bounds of Columbine Hall dated 11 the March 1568 -Suffolk Archive HA1/C/c/2/3/3}
Ena Carter found a reference to Mr Jacob at Sheepcote Hall in a 1716 Stowmarket Terrier, but no further details are given.
October 1746 – Indent. of lease & release. ‘John Jacob of Stowupland now dwelleth in Sheepcote Hall & Sarah his wife’
1829
In 1829 the Ipswich Journal advertised a sale of this property, being 236a 3r 30p and for nearly 50 years occupied by the Messrs Stearn.
1842
Ipswich Journal, 3rd April 1842: On the premises of Mr Thomas Stearn, Sheepcote Hall – Sale of Stock & implements.
1850s
In the 1851 census Thos Stearn is aged 56, a farmer of 230 acres employing 16 men and 3 boys.
The 1855 rate book gives the owner as Mr Henry Austin with Thos Stearn as occupier (ECA).
1869
The Ipswich Journal carried an advert for a sale at Sheepcote Hall in parishes of Stowupland and West Creeting – 236a 3r 30p – for nearly half a century in the occupation of Messrs Stearn.
1880.
An Expensive Feed—Samuel Caley, 40, a labourer from Stowmarket, was charged with stealing a quantity of turnips, the property of Mr. Edwin Stearn, a farmer from Stowupland. P.C. Page stated: “On Sunday last,, I was observing a turnip field at the back of the Chemical Works, around 6:30 in the morning. I saw the defendant walking along the line towards the Paper Works and then up into the turnip field. He soon returned, carrying a sack containing swede turnips. I inquired what he intended to do with them. He replied, ‘Take them home for feed.’ When asked if he had permission to take them, he answered, ‘No; I have only one or two. They will not take any notice of it, or say anything.’ I informed him, ‘I shall have to report this,’ and I took the swedes. He then admitted, ‘I am done.’ The turnips were already up, ready for carting. , I was unaware of who the owner was .” Mr. Edwin Stearn, testified: “The swede turnips now in the sack I believe to be mine; they are exactly like the ones I have grown at the back of the Chemical Works,. They were all prepared and pulled up for carting. Their value would be about 6d.” The defendant,, pleaded guilty and requested the Bench to dispose of the case. He called Mr. James Fisk as a character witness, who stated: “I have known the defendant for some years and have had the opportunity to observe his conduct, especially in the last three years, during which time he has been employed by Prentice Bros.. I have always found him to be a steady man and, until now, strictly honest.” After deliberation, the Bench returned, and the Chairman expressed: “The Magistrates, considering the high character references provided by Messrs. Prentice Bros. and Mr. Jas. Fisk, . However, they find themselves compelled to impose a severe punishment. Nevertheless, they have opted not to incarcerate you but to impose a fine of 40 shillings instead plus costs. When the defendant requested time, citing his dismissal from the Chemical Works as a result of the incident, it was denied, and the fine was paid before the court adjourned.
Report from a local paper and shared by Stowmarket Local History Group on Facebook in 2024
This map shows the farm in 1903 but without any details as to which fields still belonging to Mr Stearn.
During the 1950’s Eric Stearn’s wife was President of the Stowupland and st Peter’s WI
These photos of 2 thatched barns at Sheepcote Hall were shared on Facebook on 19/09/2021 by our researcher Neil Langridge.
By the 1970’s 7 farm barns were being used by George McDonald for storing and displaying china and glassware.
Then in n 1981 planning permission was sought to convert one barn into a dwelling.
In Rev AGH Hollingsworth’s ‘History of Stowmarket’ we are told a story of supernatural happenings at Sheepcote Hall (appendix 6, p247).
The Sexton’s father was apprentice to Winter of Ipswich (who was famous locally as a wizard). After this apprenticeship the father went as a servant to Major Whyte of Stowupland Sheepgate Hall.
The story told was that a farmer having lost some blocks of wood from his yard consulted Winter. It was agreed Winter would spend the night at the farmer’s house and the farmer would keep watch, Winter told him not to speak to anyone he saw. About midnight he saw a labourer who lived next door come into the wood yard and hoist a wood block on his shoulder. He left the yard and entered the meadow out of which there was a style leading to his garden, but the man he marched round and round the meadow unable to find the style or put down the block. Unable to stop or put down the block he was near ready to die from exhaustion, out of compassion Winter went up to the man and spoke to him thus dissolving the charm.
The Stearn’s grounds were often opened for church fetes.
In July 1968, one of the attractions at the church fete that was held at Sheepcote Hall was a Colour TV which was ‘set in the hall switched on so that visitors could watch the finals at Wimbledon’.
Press cutting from 1974 to advertise the sale of Sheepcote Hall
In 1984 the hall was up for sale for £110,000 with land of about 8 acres. Seenn here beautifully reflected in a still pond.
By the 1980s most of the barns at the hall were no longer needed for agricultural purposes and Mr George McDonald was using 7 of them to ‘store and display china and glassware’. The Mid Suffolk District Council refused him planning permission for the contined use of the barns for storage but an appeal to Whitehall found in his favour and said it was ‘impressed by the way the redundant barns were being put to new use.’
Keith Pilling died in 1993. He had had several books published showing his skill at sketching local scenes.
