Sproughton Tithe Barn is a late 16th or early 17th century Grade II Listed Building.  All the main posts, tie beams, collars and principal rafters are original; the rest of the studwork has been replaced with reclaimed timbers, some being remnants of the original studs.

Mike McConnell, a Historic Buildings Consultant, said in a report dated November 2004:

  "The barn itself is exceptional.  It has eight bays with two threshing bays,
    which is not unique, but neither is it common.  The survival of the
    thatched roof, and the excellent state of repair, are in stark contrast with
    most other barns in Suffolk.  It is very unusual to find a barn with all these
    qualities ....  Very few Suffolk barns in regular use survive with the historic
    character and appearance as unchanged as the Tithe Barn; it is a credit
    to its present custodians".

Our Tithe Barn was given to the Parish Council in 1978. It was 
judged to be in need of extensive repair.  For example, daylight
streamed in from all the walls onto the dirt floor.  Over the years the
Parish Council, with the help of various grants and the hard work of
the community, has put in a floor, renewed all the cladding, renewed
the thatch, concreted the yard, converted a store into a block of toilets
and added some background heating.

The Tithe Barn is currently used for village indoor sports activities, public meetings and community events such as Barn Dances and VE-Day
celebrations. The Barn has a Public Entertainments licence which
authorises 300 seated, or 300 dancing, or 150 mixed seating and dancing,
or 120 seated at tables.  For hiring arrangements, refer to the Parish Clerk,
Sue Frankis (463852).

The Parish Council is responsible for seeking grants to fund repairs and
to make improvements to the Tithe Barn.  However, by 2005 the barn was
close to becoming too expensive for the village to maintain.

In 2005 the Parish Council was awarded £50,000 of Big Lottery money
and a Suffolk Environmental Trust (SET) grant of £20,000!  These funds
were used to convert the east store into a kitchen and small meeting
room (now called the Barley Room).  These new facilities, opened in
September 2006, have enabled the Parish Council to implement new
community services and to attract more income from lettings. 



A community Computer Club takes place twice a month in the Barley Room.




The new kitchen, adjacent to the Barley Room.




Senior Citizens' lunches take place every Wednesday in the Barley Room - the photo shows the
first Christmas lunch in 2006.


In January 2008 the Parish Council appointed Ms Jane Draper as the
Tithe Barn Warden.  The Warden's primary task is to assist hirers of
the barn.

News update: July 2008.
Sproughton Parish Council has been awarded £150,000 to provide
insulation for the Tithe Barn.  Funding is made up of £112,388 from
the East of England Development Agency’s Cut Your Carbon competiton, which represents 75% of the project’s cost. Suffolk County Council will
provide the remaining 25% through their Green Suffolk fund.


We continue to seek funds to convert the West Store into a Village Shop.


Many village organisations currently use the Tithe Barn. The
Sproughton carpet bowls club, the badminton club and the short
tennis club are regulars.  There is a community Barn Dance once a
month.  On special occasions, such as the VE-Day celebrations,
public meetings to discuss local planning applications, concerts,
plays and Christmas carol singing, the Tithe Barn is full to capacity.
Contact the Parish Clerk, Sue Frankis (463852), for hiring
arrangements for weddings, etc.



The interior of the Tithe Barn in July 2008.