Bardwell is an attractive village with many listed buildings and a conservation area covering the historic parts of the village. Information about the Conservation Area can be obtained from St Edmundsbury Borough Council and the listed buildings register can be viewed at the Council Offices in Western Way as well as on the English Heritage website. www.imagesofengland.org.uk/

LISTED BUILDINGS

There are nearly 13,000 buildings in Suffolk listed for their special architectural and/or historic interest. Many more are “listable” but are not listed and many parts of the county need to be re-surveyed.
Listed Buildings are classified in grades to show their relative importance, Grade I, II* & II.

Grade I buildings are of paramount importance to the nation. The Church of St Peter and St Paul is Grade I

Grade II* buildings are of outstanding interest. Croft House, The Windmill and Bardwell Hall are Grade II*.

Grade II buildings are of special interest which warrants every effort being made to preserve them. Most of the listed buildings in Bardwell are Grade II, they are: The Baptist Chapel, Bardwell Hall Barn, Barningham Park, Barn at Barningham Park, Bell Cottage, Booty Hall, Bowbeck House, Brook House, The Cottage, Church Cottage, Church House, The Chestnuts, Dun Cow Cottage, Dun Cow Public House, Elm Tree Cottage, Foxglove Cottage, Gent Cottage, The Gildhalls, Harebell Cottage, Hillfield Cottage, Holly House, Ivydene, Lavender Barn (Bowbeck) Littlemoor, The Maltings, Mansard House, Merrow Cottage, Minden House, Moat House, Mothersoles, The Old Barn, The Old Farmhouse, The Old Green Man, The Old Post Office, The Old Rectory, Place Farm, Pelham House, Rowan Cottage, The School, School House, Six Bells Inn, Timberscombe, 2 Low St, The Watermill also the farmhouse and the barn, The Willows, Willow Cottage and Vine Farm.

Not all the old buildings are listed and if Bardwell was resurveyed there is a strong possibility that some further buildings would be included in the Grade II listing and at least one building would be relisted as Grade II*.

Sometimes buildings are listed for their group value, in Bardwell we have several such examples they are The Maltings, The Old Barn and Stable End in Low Street and the Chestnuts on the Green.

It is not only buildings that can be listed the wall and gate piers of Pelham House listed in their own right.

What Does Listing Mean

The building is identified on a national list and the owner or tenant has a legal responsibility to repair and maintain the building. However there is a legal requirement to obtain Listed Building Consent before undertaking any work. Permitted Development Rights do not apply and penalties for not obtaining consent can include imprisonment and or a heavy fine up to £20,000.

What is Listed

All of the building is listed from chimney pots to the foundations, from the front door to the rear of the property boundary. All structures and objects attached to the building or forming part of the curtilage are included; this includes boundary walls if they are attached to the listed building at any point. The internal period and architectural features such as fire places, stairs, wall paintings, decorative plaster work, cornices and doors are also listed. There is a common misconception that only the front or the outside of a building is protected. This is not so and internal alterations have to have consent.

Listed Building Consent is required for any works affecting the character of the building internally and externally. This includes: demolition in part or total, building additions, alterations, applying lettering or signage, attaching satellite TV receivers aerials/dishes, some repairs, cleaning of brickwork and timbers internally and externally in most cases, some painting and repainting. The above also applies to all curtilage buildings. It is best to contact the Borough Conservation Officer if in doubt.