Building record 2882/2/6 - No. 4 Hall Yard (The Tithe Barn)

A 16th century tithe barn located on the western side of Hall Yard. The barn is constructed of squared coursed limestone with a Collyweston slate roof. The building is two storys high with an attic range lit by dormer windows. The rear elevation has a wagon entrance that has been glazed and flanking modern windows. An attached wall on the left is the remains of a former dovecote that was demolished in the late 20th century. The barn was converted to a house in the late 20th century.

{1} Tithe barn and attached dovecote, now house. Datestones: E.R. and 1570 or 1578, converted to house late C20. Squared coursed limestone with Collyweston slate roof. Originally single-unit tithe barn and attached dovecote. Originally single storey, now 2 storeys with attic. Entrance front has C20 porch and flanking C20 casements under wood lintels, to far left and right. 2 C20 eaves dormers to centre. Ashlar gable parapets. Gable to left has pitch hole, now window, under old wood lintel and small window above with moulded stone surround. Gable to right rebuilt C20 incorporating old masonry with initials and datestone on kneelers. Rear elevation has former central cart entrance, now glazed screen, under old reset wood lintel. C20 openings to left and right. 4 C20 eaves dormers. Chamfered plinth steps down diagonally to follow the fall of the ground. Attached wall to left is remains of former dovecote which was demolished late C20. Interior: some original rafters visible. Originally part of Collyweston Palace which had been the home of Lady Margret Beaufort until her death in the early C16, and which was dismantled about 1640.

{3} Built within the area of the "palace" is a square dovecote with shaped kneelers inscribed 'ER' and '1570' or '1578'. It has some 300 nesting boxes and is now roofless. Secondary to this (the dovecote) is a C16th barn with freestone dressings, ventilation slits and a wide entry on the south side. At the east end is a two-storey section with a plastered floor. Five bays of the original roof with principal rafters diminishing above clasped purlins, and a ridge-piece supported by short collars, survive at the west end.

{5} Undated photo.

{7} Building recording undertaken in 1982 in response to plans for demolition/conversion of dovecote and barn. The dovecote was once a free-standing rectangular structure. By the date of the survey, the dovecote had lost its roof, but it was determined that it comprised a central tie beam truss supporting butt purlins carrying tenoned rafters. This may have been a replacement of the original roof, erected when the barn was built. The roof may have carried a decorative lantern providing access for the birds. There is one low door on the south side and a timber-framed window above it. Internally, nestboxes for 307 nests arranged in twelve tiers, each with a perching ledge. The interior was rendered between each ledge. The building was also rendered above 3m. Collyweston slate roof with coped gables, the copings terminating in a simple roll. The west gable kneelers, one bearing a rough crown over two lys separating the initials E and R and the other the date 1570. The owner of the manor in 1570 was Queen Elizabeth I.
The barn was erected in the early to mid part of the 17th century.

{8] A dovecote dated circa 1578. The dovecote was demolished during the late 20th century and all that remains is a chamfered plinth that steps down diagonally to follow the fall of the ground, with an attached wall to the left. The Tithe Barn is Listed at Grade II.

{9} [Former list description] A 16th century tithe barn. The barn is constructed of squared coursed limestone with a Collyweston slate roof. The building is two story¿s high with an attic range lit by dormer windows. The rear elevation has a wagon entrance that has been glazed and flanking modern windows. An attached wall on the left is the remains of a former dovecote that was demolished in the late 20th century. The barn was converted to a house in the late 20th century. The barn is a Grade II Listed Building.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 8/37 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G11 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<3> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1984, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.30+33+pl.123 (checked) (Series). SNN77384.

<4> 1841, Collyweston Enclosure Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN102458.

<5> Various, Various, Photographs of buildings in Collyweston (Photographs). SNN111558.

<6> Collins P., 1972, Dovecotes: With Particular Reference to the Dovecotes of Northamptonshire (Dissertation). SNN71824.

<7> Woodfield, P, 1982, Dovecote at Collyweston (Archive). SNN112066.

<8> Historic England, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments- Building File (Oral Report). SNN71057.

<9> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, District of Listing: East Northamptonshire. 23-May-1967 Amended 31-Mar-1988 (Report). SNN112993.

<10> Undated, THE TITHE BARN, COLLYWESTON, BF084568 (Archive). SNN113639.

Record last edited

Aug 25 2023 9:39AM