The site at Cages Farm has one of the longest documented histories of any property in the village. dating back to at least 1327 when Roger Cage was living in a property near the site of the present day house. There is evidence that there was an earlier house next to the present building of which only the moat survives. When the moat was cleaned in 1980 wooden timbers, split half logs, were discovered which were carbon dated to C8th AD. They were thought to possibly be part of the retaining wall of a fortification. A will of William Cage still exists from 1440. Cages is mentioned in another will made by Roger Sturgeon of Manston in 1547. This mentions a tenement called Overcages and a house referred to as Gilbert Cages house which he had on lease from 'the late dissolved monastery of St Edmund.

The current property dates from the late C16th.It is listed Grade II and was previously a farmhouse. The house is of 2 storeys, 3 cell lobby entrance plan. Timber framed and rendered. Panelled entrance door and a C20th porch. Back-to- back open fireplaces in the end parlour. An unusual example of a one-build house of rectangular plan but with a higher eaves-line at the parlour end to give a parlour chamber with full head room. The roof structure was replaced and the eaves raised mid c20. A diamond mullion wiindow exposed and evidence for others. (Thanks to Historic England for the listing details) .

Click  here to see a list of the Owners and Occupiers over the centuries. /assets/History/CAGES-OWNERS-AND-OCCUPIERS-2.docx

Some newpaper articles which can be found in The British Newspaper Archive can be seen here:Newspaper Articles Cages Farm.

Thanks to John Martyn for the photographs

 

 

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