Building record 3136/2/14 - Dated barn

{1} Barns. Datestone 1690. Regular coursed limestone with ironstone dressings and slate roof. Originally L-shape range of 2 barns, that to north converted to cottage in C19. Elevation to yard has central cart entrance under wood lintel flanked by pairs of ventilation slits. Ashlar gable parapets and kneelers. Rear has triangular vent holes. Northern range has 2-window range of dormer openings and C19 openings at ground floor. Brick stack at ridge. Datestone in end gable. C18 and C19 cowhouses and stables attached to north and south. Interior of main barn has some original roof timbers. Limestone wall is attached to rear of main barn.

{3} A stone building abutting onto the north-east corner of the old barn. The north gable has a datestone bearing the date 1690 and the west elevation has blocked up longitudinal ventilation slits indicating the building was used as a barn. On this elevation are the remains of two dormer windows extending slightly above the eaves, a blocked doorway and some small boarded up windows. Similarly the east elevation has boarded up windows and doors. This elevation originally faced onto Walry Lane. The roof is of slate and there are the remains of a brick gable chimney stack and a central brick stack. It is assumed that the datestone does refer to the primary phase of the building but this needs to be confirmed by an internal survey. From the external appearance it would appear that the building was converted into three dwellings at one stage. The limited evidence would suggest that this was carried out in the nineteenth century and that the entrance to the cottages was from Walry Lane. This would suggest that part of the lane was still in use at this period and that the Stone Shed is late nineteenth century in date.

{4} Trial pits revealed that the walls of the building continued to a depth of 1.06m below current ground level.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 5/194 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1986, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G05 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN100394.

<3> Giggins B., 1990, Chester Farm, Irchester, Architectural Survey, pp.20-21 (checked) (Report). SNN71035.

<3> Giggins B., 2011, Chester Farm, Irchester: Farm Buildings Appraisal and Interpretation Potential, pp.20-21 (checked) (Report). SNN107469.

<4> Townend, P., 2012, An Archaeological Watching Brief at Chester House Farm, Irchester, Northamptonshire, p.5 (checked) (Report). SNN109213.

Record last edited

Feb 26 2014 11:04AM