Building record 9080/1 - C19th/C20th Farm Buildings

{1} Visited in response to application to renew the farm buildings for residential use. Buildings present on 1st edition OS. Construction details suggest circa 1880 construction date however. In very dilapidated condition at time of site visit with all roofs showing signs of collapse and much debris on the ground that precluded close internal examination. Inspection confirmed the existence of ‘U’ plan complex with the yard now under a modern steel roof. Constructed principally in stone. East range in brick however suggesting later construction date although ‘U’ plan evident on the 1880 map .
The western range contains cattle stalls and feeding troughs in modern steel, possibly a milking parlour. A door at the north end provides access through to the western end of the barn structure. This area contains brick partitions creating three separate spaces in total. The partitions were again of apparently later build and possibly related to the operation of the milking parlour. The rooms had domestic type windows but no chimney was evident to support the view that these spaces were once habitable. The loft above the rooms to the west could not be accessed
Access to the full height barn element of the northern structure could be made from the rooms at the western end. Barn element of the northern range relatively small and of standard layout with opposing doors.
At eastern end of the north range is a cartshed with a granary over. An opening / trapdoor? was noted in the floor of the granary above the cartshed possibly to allow sacks etc to be lowered down?
The eastern range was given over to stabling and a tack room area for perhaps three heavy horses.
Nearby to the north east were some dilapidated timber buildings of underterminable use.
The lack of a farmhouse on the 1880 plan and at time of visit seems unusual as this is quite a large isolated group of agricultural buildings and would be large enough to serve a small C19th farm of 100 or so acres. The explanation might lie in the proximity of the site to the Boughton Estate. There may also be a link with this site and the relativeley nearby Glendon Lodge. The lack of any discernible architectural input to the building suggests that they were purely utilitarian and were not intended as an ‘eyecatcher’ or point of rest on an estate ride.
Pictures on DVD.

<1> Ellison M., 2002, SMR Report Form, (part checked) (Notes). SNN102200.

<2> Ellison M., 2002, Farm Buildings on Weekley Wood Lane, (unchecked) (Photographic prints (COL)). SNN102201.

Record last edited

Mar 16 2009 12:28PM