Building record 4177/0/2 - 19th-century threshing barn, Green Lane

Barn constructed from ironstone and limestone and Welsh slate. Recorded prior to conversion to residential use

{1} The 1807 Inclosure map of Ashley shows several buildings on the site including a range of buildings concurrent with the position of the threshing barn. It is difficult to say with certainty how this range relates to the threshing barn but it is likely that these are earlier structures which were demolished prior to the construction of the current building. The barn shows no evidence to indicate that other structures previously abutted it. The current barn is shown on the 1886 1st edition Ordnance Survey map of Ashley with another structure, aligned north-south, to the south. The farm has undergone some changes with additional buildings present which are not visible on the 1807 Inclosure map.

The recorded building consists a 19th-century, two-storey, threshing barn. The building is primarily constructed from ironstone and pale yellow sandy limestone set in a lime mortar. The internal partitions of the barn are constructed from red brick. The ground floor of the building is divided into the three rooms flanking the central threshing floor and two large doorways. The western side is divided into two rooms of unequal size. The eastern side consists one large, open fronted room. The first floor comprises two large rooms.

The structure is covered by a timber roof with grey Welsh slate tiles. The two doorways are flanked by a pair of queen post trusses with iron ties, which support a frame of machine sawn purlins, rafters and battens. The building has two large entrances on the north and south elevations. A large wooden, double door is present on the northern elevation.

The threshing floor had been disturbed by the time of this survey. Flat lain, red brick surfaces lay before the two main entrances, with an earth floor between. It is possible that the area of earth floor may have been covered with flat concrete slabs.

The first floor is divided into two large rooms separated by, and overlooking, the central threshing floor and main entrances of the building. Access to the first floor from ground level is by wooden ladders, two of which were present in the building, fixed to the axial beams. It is unclear if the ladders present during the survey were original to the building.

As is fairly typical of agricultural vernacular architecture, the building is a mix of various building materials, utilising available resources. Other than the narrowing of the window in one of the ground floor rooms, no evidence of structural alteration was visible in the barn. The building has been in agricultural use since its construction in the 19th century and has remained so until recently.

<1> Bassir A., 2012, Archaeological Building Recording at 1 Green Lane, Ashley, Northamptonshire July 2012, (checked) (Report). SNN109185.

<2> 1807, Ashley Inclosure Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN102377.

Record last edited

Mar 27 2019 11:29AM