Building record MNN170434 - Outbuildings at White House Farm

A large ironstone threshing barn predating the current farmhouse probably dates from the 17th century. The western end of the barn may have originally had a domestic use. The remainder of the buildings were added in the 19th century and are of brick

{1} The earliest surviving building on the site, pre-dating the oldest part of the farmhouse, is the large ironstone barn located at the north-west corner of the complex. It is possible, but at present far from certain, that this may have incorporated a small domestic residence at the western end, perhaps for farm workers. The presence there of two well-shaped and decorated chamfered beams with ogee stops suggest this is the most likely scenario though it must also be considered that they are simply re-used given that the decoration suggests a fairly early date, possible even to the first half of the seventeenth-century. The whole of the stone barn has undergone significant alteration making it difficult to attribute any other features to a domestic building.
The walls have been raised and the roof completely re-built and re-covered. Floors, both at ground level and first floor level, have been re-laid or altered. Door and window openings and the external staircase have been added and altered. On reflection, unless further evidence is forthcoming it may be most appropriate to consider that the beams are re-used rather than providing for evidence of a ‘long house’ type of which is unknown in this region apart from medieval examples. The remainder of the complex is an agglomeration of typical well-known types which are common throughout lowland Britain during the middle and latter years of the nineteenth-century. Whilst none of the brick buildings appear to be present on the map of 1815, all are present by 1885. Stylistically, they fall comfortably within this time period, but with no features which can date them more closely. They do, however, reflect the growing awareness of new fashions for agricultural architecture made popular by increasing numbers of books published on the subject during the first half of the nineteenth-century, most notably in the Encyclopaedia of Cottage, Farm and Villa Architecture and Furniture (Loudon 1833). This would also fit well with the general progression of British farming during the nineteenth-century.
The buildings indicate a typical regional method of farming which requires the presence of horses for
transport for the owners as well as traction for farm machinery. The threshing barn indicates the production of grain, either for home use or for sale though the size of the barn suggests that the latter was important here.
Loose boxes and animal shelters indicate the presence of cattle and it is likely that sheep and probably pigs were also kept, though perhaps in smaller numbers. The complex shows no signs of being designed but rather shows that as the relative wealth of the farm increased and allowed new buildings were added as necessary. On completion they have subsequently been altered to accommodate changes in farming methods and technologies as the years progressed.
The complex as a whole suggests that the farm was mixed arable and livestock throughout its life. It conforms almost exactly to those elements prescribed in The Farmers Calendar, 1862 by J C Morton. In it he writes ‘The essential parts of a farmer are, (1) stabling for the farm horses; (2) threshing barns and granary for the storage of grain; (3) shelter for livestock. Besides these there are in all complete buildings, straw barn, houses for preparation of food, and cart and implement sheds’.

<1> Prentice, J., 2016, A building recording survey at White House Farm, West Haddon, Northamptonshire, 2016, checked (Report). SNN110460.

<2> Crank, N. (Editor), 2017, South Midlands Archaeology (47), p. 39 (Journal). SNN111362.

Record last edited

Apr 25 2019 2:32PM