Building record 291/7/3 - Barn and pigsty at Floyd's Farm

The pig-sty was of the typical pen and run type and probably dated to the early 19th century. The barn was added between 1845 and 1882. Now demolished

{1} The pigsty was of the typical pen-and run type. The pigsty is of an earlier date than the barn, it is present on the Tithe Apportionment map from 1845, whereas the barn first shows up on the first edition Ordnance Survey map form 1882. The pigsty may be of similar age to the farmhouse, which dates to the early 19th century. Pigs were left to forage in woodland, supervised by a swineherd, until the early 18th century when they became part of the dairy farm as they could consume the by-products
(Woodforde 1983).
Having been built in the second half of the 19th century the barn possibly may not have had a hay loft, as it was recommended at the time to make the buildings more sanitary (Woodforde 1983). The brick skin may be part of the original phasing as it is keyed in and appears to be part of the construction method. Brick was often used as an internal skin to stone buildings as it provides more sanitary conditions than the stone wall. The barn possibly initially comprised two parts, Room 3 the cow shed and the western part, which was possibly later sub-divided by a brick wall (Rooms 1 and 2). Room 1 had a fireplace later installed for the farm workers. At this time the space between the stone wall and roof was also in-filled by brick and the door in Room 3 blocked. The blocking is later than the brick skin. The original fixtures were replaced in the 20th century, of which only the concrete flooring and trough survive. The addition of Room 4 is also of the 20th century along with the blocking of the gap of
the rear wall with the roof by breeze blocks.

{2} Archaeological observation undertaken during the construction of a house on the footprint of the former buildings at Floyds Farm found evidence of former floor surfaces relating to the pigsty with a brick floor overlying a pitched stone floor that may have been of 18th century date. Close to the southern wall of the pigsty was a, possibly related, posthole from which two sherds of post-medieval pottery and a shard of possibly late medieval glass were recovered.
A medieval/post-medieval drain, found to the south of the pigsty, may have been part of a field drainage system active prior to its construction or, alternatively, have drained the pigsty itself. A singel sherd of the 18th century pottery was found in the fill.

<1> Wolframm-Murray Y., 2015, Archaeological building recording at Floyds Farm, Greatworth, Northamptonshire October and November 2015 (Report). SNN110516.

<2> Sharman, T., 2016, Archaeological observation, investigation, recording and analysis of land at Floyds Farm, Brackley Road, Greatworth, Northamptonshire September 2016 (Report). SNN110731.

<3> Horne, B (editor), 2016, South Midlands Archaeology (46), p. 41 (Journal). SNN111326.

Record last edited

Jan 23 2019 3:23PM