Building record 4678/0/8 - Range of barns, north-east of Manor Farm

Identified as a significant building in South Northants. Built of coursed limestone rubble with brick details and ceramic tiled roof. The south-western side is open. Probably built between 1806 and 1827 during a phase of remodelling around the green by the 3rd Earl of Pomfret.

{1} Identified by South Northamptonshire Council as being a building of historic and/or architectural significance.

{2} A level 2 building recording survey was undertaken of a barn prior to proposed conversion. It comprises an elongated barn/shelter shed which curves to the south at its south-eastern end. The structure is open on its southern side with a carriage way separating the open range from an enclosed bay at the south-eastern extremity. The north-eastern elevation of the structure is largely built of coursed limestone with a rubble core (visible where the outer wall has partially collapsed). Red brick has been used for edging the opening of the carriageway (3.22m wide) at the south eastern end of the structure. There are three brick buttresses on the north-east elevation which have been rendered in concrete. It is likely that these buttresses were added in the 20th century to stabilise the outer wall. The north-western gable wall is constructed of stretcher bonded red brick with a buttress supporting the wall on the northern side and a brick pier capping the end of the stone built north-eastern elevation. The uppermost apex of the gable has been rebuilt, although still in red brick. There is a stub wall projecting from the gable which forms part of the boundary wall for a yard to the south of the structure.

The south-western elevation is largely open to the exterior with the roof supported by brick piers spaced at intervals of 2.65m creating ten open bays. The brick piers are constructed from bull nosed bricks which indicates that this structure was intended for livestock. The two western most bays have had the open bays in-filled with brick, although they are still open to the range internally. This brick in-fill is of 20th century frogged brick and a single boarded up window and stable door is present within the elevation.

The barn is likely to have been built by the 3rd earl of Pomfret between 1806 and 1827 during a phase of remodelling around the green at Hulcote. It is likely that the barn was built to serve the adjacent Manor Farm, and based on the open bays and the use of bull nosed bricks for the dividing piers was intended to hold livestock. The Tithe map {3} shows that the barn had a southern projection at the western end which is shown in more detail on the Ordnance Survey 1st edition map. This wing burnt down in the 1960's and only part of the outer wall survives which forms the western boundary of the present “courtyard”.

{4} A possible 19th-century soakaway was observed during archaeological observation during groundworks for the conversion of the barn.

<1> SOUTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNCIL, 2012, South Northamptonshire Council Survey of Significant Historic Buildings, (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN108984.

<2> Roberts, J., 2018, Level 2 Archaeological Building Recording at The Woodyard, Hulcote, Northamptonshire, NN12 7HT (Report). SNN111872.

<3> 1849, Easton Neston (With Hulcote) Tithe Map (Map). SNN17813.

<4> Roberts, J, 2020, Report on a Programme of Archaeological Observation, Investigation, Recording, Analysis and Publication on Land at The Woodyard, Hulcote, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN112470.

<5> South Northamptonshire Council, 2018, Hulcote Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan: Adopted March 2018 (Report). SNN113567.

Record last edited

Jun 8 2022 12:27PM