Building record 2723/1/5 - Late 18th/ early 19th century threshing barn

{1} The building is a stone-built threshing barn with a modern slate roof, aligned north west – south east with the off centre threshing doors and a smaller pedestrian door to the north west on the south west elevation. The building has been extensively re-pointed with modern lime mortar, but there is some limited evidence of potential phasing visible, most notably at eaves level and on both gable walls, suggesting the roof has been raised at some point in the past. Each threshing door has a segmental brick arch; there is no evidence of the original doors. There are four arrow slit openings, three on the south west elevation and one on the north eastern elevation. There is also a pitching hole towards the centre of the north east elevation and a hanging door at the north western end of the south west elevation. Access to the pitching hole is now blocked.
Internally, the fabric of the building is still exposed, however, there is little of historic significance; this is limited to a niche to the left of the south western threshing door. The roof is modern Queen post trusses. There is a modern inserted wall dividing the north western third of the barn. There are a number of remaining features within the north western part of the barn; there are the remains of a loft abutting the north western gable, the timber joists appear original, the loft was originally accessed by a hanging door on the south west elevation. It is possible that this loft was originally a granary. On the north west gable there is a ground level door, the reveal is poorly finished, suggesting it is a later insertion. There is also a ground level door on the north east elevation. To the north west of this door is rubble infill and a straight joint, this straight joint is the same alignment as the door on the south west elevation, suggesting this was originally a cross passage through the barn. It is likely therefore that this opening was altered with the construction of the adjacent building.

<1> Richards, G., 2014, An Archaeological Standing Building Survey: Hardwick Lodge, Hardwick, Northamptonshire, p.10 (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 12:55PM