Building record 1681/6/2 - Barn behind No. 10 Hall Hill

{1} The barn is constructed of coursed limestone on three sides with a weather-boarded frontage on the south east face. The original barn was finely constructed with ashlar quoins and copings on the gables and two datestones on the north west wall 'J.B.1773'. The weather-boarding on the frontage would appear to be a later adaptation. The current phase of weather boarding is probably relatively modern but it is supported by a series of older horizontal timber posts.

A brick extension to the house has protruded into the barn and there have been two sub-divisions of the ground floor in the 20th century. The upper floor is currently open through the entire structure with a staircase in the south west corner. There is evidence for a former opening in the centre of the upper floor.

The roof consists of an A-frame supported by a collar and tie and by a single set of purlins. The timbers do not appear to be contemporary with the original construction. There is also evidence for the eaces of the building having been raised. The datestones are located at this level and may have been inserted during the raising of the eaves.

Internally, there is a brick copper with flue. The copper adjoins the brick extension and was probably inserted at a later date. There are also the remains of a possible pulley or lifting mechanism.

The militia lists of 1777 list five men aged between 18 and 45 with the intials JB.

{3} A desk based assessment revealed no information as to the date or previous use of the barn. A site survey identified the likely date of construction as 1773, a date recorded on three datestones on the building. The function of the barn remains unclear, though like most farm buildings it is likely to have served a variety of uses.
Though the barn differs from most by having almost the whole of one side open on the ground floor and weather boarded above, this may simply have been because the ground floor was open on this side and it would have been difficult to build above it in stone. Apart from the timber cladding to the south east side it is like many other stone barns of this date being used as a cart hovel on the ground floor and a hay loft or granary on the first floor. Unfortunately there is nothing remaining in the building to indicate whether it was built for any specific function. Over the years the barn has been used for a number of functions and modified accordingly on the ground floor, though the first floor has hardly been touched.

{4} Late C18, two storey, outbuilding attached to rear has weatherboarded front.

<1> Ballinger J., 2001, Barn To The Rear Of 10 Hall Hill, Brigstock, (checked) (Report). SNN100770.

<2> Ballinger J., 2001, Barn To The Rear Of 10 Hall Hill, Brigstock, (checked) (Photographic prints (COL)). SNN100771.

<3> Prentice, J., 2002, Desk based survey and building recording at 10 Hall Hill, Brigstock, Northamptonshire, (checked) (Report). SNN102483.

<4> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 15/59 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<5> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G09 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

Record last edited

Sep 23 2011 10:15AM