Building record 2723/1/4 - Late 18th/ early 19th century cow hovel

{1} The building is built of buff red bricks with a modern slate roof. The bricks are laid in a Flemish bond with modern lime mortar pointing. The building is open-fronted, facing the yard to the south east and in all likelihood built as a cow hovel. There are three window openings on the north west elevation, possibly feeding holes as well as a double sized door opening.
The interior has been renovated; there is an internal blockwork skin and cement render. There is a modern block-work wall in the angle between the north east – south west bays. Although clearly a modern wall, it is unclear whether it is an inserted wall or replaced an earlier wall on the same alignment. The roof of one partition is carried on two modern King post trusses, and the roof of the other partition is carried on modern Queen post trusses.
There is a straight joint between this building and its neighbour. The modern re-pointing prevents any indication of whether this reflects phasing or a simple joint between two different building materials.
The smaller brick dimensions in the building suggest that it is earlier, either early 19th century or late 18th century. The 1839 Tithe map indicates the building was originally adjoined to the farmhouse range; there is an outline of the gable of a lost bay on the farmhouse wall supporting this and it is unclear when this bay was removed. The brickwork of the south westernmost gable wall of the building does not match the remainder of the brickwork, so it is likely that this gable is modern.

<1> Richards, G., 2014, An Archaeological Standing Building Survey: Hardwick Lodge, Hardwick, Northamptonshire, p.9 (checked) (Report). SNN109571.

<2> 1839, Hardwick Tithe Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN109759.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1884, First Edition OS 25 Inch Mapping Series (39.1), (unchecked) (Map). SNN109760.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1900, Second Edition OS 25 Inch Mapping Series (39.01), (unchecked) (Map). SNN109761.

Record last edited

Sep 17 2014 12:49PM