Building record 5459/0/20 - Farm buildings enclosing three sides of yard opposite Rookery Farmhouse

Rookery Farm, Stoke Bruerne. Model farm for Grafton estate. c. 1840. Model farms were architect-designed farmsteads inspired by the ideals of Enlightenment that combined utility with architectural beauty.

{1} Range of farm buildings, including barn and granary, stabling and shelter sheds. C.1840. Coursed squared limestone and red brick; hipped slate roofs. U plan. 1 and 2 storeys. Single-storey shelter shed range facing house is open to yard on brick segmental-arched arcade. Barn to right forms part of right return range and has pair of double-leaf opposed doors with wood lintels and segmental-arched heads. 2-storey, 3-window granary to outer end of left return range has doors and windows with ironstone jams and lintels with keyblocks, those to side facing road are blind. Former cart-standing to rear now blocked. Faces Rookery Farmhouse (q.v.) across Bridge Road. Rookery Farm was originally part of the Grafton Estate and this model farm yard closely resembles those of a group of model farms built 1839-44 for 4th Duke of Grafton as part of an extensive programme of agricultural improvements.

{3} Undated photo, also two photos dated 13.01.1994, and two photos showing farmyard walls dated 22.04.1991.

{5} Farm buildings now converted to residential use.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 4/157 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F10 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> Photographs of buildings in Stoke Bruerne (Photographs). SNN113273.

<4> Bond A., 1995, Thematic Survey of Planned and Model Farms: Northamptonshire, p. 18 (Gazetteer). SNN63075.

<5> Historic England, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, Compiler comment 25-SEP-2012 (Oral Report). SNN111577.

Record last edited

Feb 21 2024 4:22PM