No 25 The Red Barn Polstead

Numbered Series

This cottage is number 25 in the numbered series of cottages produced by Mudlen End Studio and is identified in the Mudlen brochure as "The Red Barn", Polstead.

The group of 4 smaller pictures in the grid below show other shots of this example of the Mudlen Red Barn.

This is one of few models in the numbered series that are identified as being representative of a known building or location.

The Red Barn in Polstead, Suffolk was the scene of a murder committed in 1827. A young woman, Maria Marten, was apparently shot dead by her lover, William Corder. Maria and William had arranged to meet at the Red Barn, which was a local landmark, and had planned to elope. Maria was never heard from again, and was later found buried in the barn.

Corder was subsequently tracked down in London and was brought back to Suffolk, and after a well-publicised trial, found guilty of murder. He was hanged in Bury St Edmunds in 1828. The story was widely publicised. Polstead became a tourist attraction and the barn was apparently stripped by souvenir hunters.

The Red Barn apparently gets its name from the red brick tiles on the small lean to structure that adjoins the main barn building, the remainder of the roof being thatched, as depicted in the model.

Notes

This model is easy to find [Uncommon], and is available in many different colourways, although none are recognised as specific theme colours (red, blue etc.).

Refer to the Mudlen End Home page for a definition of the availability categories used on this site.