The historic round house that stood on the cattle market in Bury St Edmunds will be restored and re-erected at the Museum of East Anglian Life, Stowmarket.
The Bury St Edmunds Society and St Edmundsbury Borough Council have worked together to identify a new site for the building, which was carefully dismantled and put into storage in 2006 when the town centre redevelopment started. They examined many different locations, but concluded that there was no appropriate site in the town centre and that the museum will safeguard its future and it is therefore the best option in the long run.
The attractive octagonal wooden building, also known as the settling, tally or counting house, was erected in 1864 and used as a payments office for the market. It is not listed. Many of its timbers were rotten and had to be discarded, increasing the cost of re-erection. The Museum of East Anglian Life was approached by the Borough early on in the discussions when options were being considered, and this year offered to
take the structure and rebuild it alongside other market buildings, (including the old Robert Boby building from Bury St Edmunds), if it was successful in obtaining a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Cllr Sara Mildmay-White, who led the discussions with the Bury St Edmunds Society, said,
“We worked very closely with the Bury Society to find the right home for the round house. We looked at many different options, but in the end we all felt that the priority was to save the building and the museum is the best option. We know it is going to a really good home where it will be properly looked after and appreciated.”
Sarah Green, Chairman of the Bury St Edmunds Society said,
“The Society has worked extremely hard to save this historic building for the town as it is the only existing reminder of the cattle market. Naturally we are very disappointed that a suitable site could not be found but we are pleased that the roundhouse will have a safe future in the museum where it will be restored. We look forward to being involved in the discussions to establish its role there”.
Tony Butler, Director of the Museum of East Anglian Life said,
“The round house has a lot of character and it is very symbolic for a market town like Bury St Edmunds or indeed Stowmarket. We plan to re-interpret the building drawing on its various historical uses. As it was originally the house where traders’ accounts were settled, we will recreate a set of a tally house with till and abacuses. We also plan to sell refreshments from the house occasionally. This draws on its licence, granted in the 19th century, to sell ‘buns and ginger beer’.”
ENDS
Contacts:
St Edmundsbury Borough Council: Sally Easton, Communications Officer, 01284 757033, sally.easton@stedsbc.gov.uk
Bury St Edmunds Society: Sarah Green, Chairman, 01284 752718 chairman@burysociety.com
Museum of East Anglian Life: Tony Butler, Director, 01449 612229 tony.butler@eastanglianlife.org.uk
