Building record 8523/2/2 - Former animal shelter, West Lodge

Animal shelter probably constructed in the 19th century, possibly reusing the walls of an 18th-century stockyard contemporary with the construction of West Losge.

{1} The single storey range on the west side of the farmstead group at West Lodge represents a simple animal shelter commonly found on farms dating to the nineteenth century and later. Whilst the farmhouse dates to the eighteenth century there is nothing which appears to be contemporary with it in this building apart, possibly, from the stone west and south walls. If so, at that date they simply formed a stockyard boundary wall.

These were utilised when the north and east brick walls of the range were added and altered at various times to create a simple shelter. It appears that in the first phase the northern part was an enclosed space with the southern end forming an open-sided stock hovel facing onto the stockyard. This configuration was widely used to provide winter shelter close to the farmer and stored fodder. It lies immediately to the south of a barn.

In the second phase the southern open-sided hovel was enclosed and the whole range made into one long space. It was fitted with stalls during the latter half of the twentieth century, apparently to provide shelter for cattle or possibly calves. No fixtures or fittings survive from the early conversion of the range and only late twentieth century fragments remain which indicate it latest usage.

<1> Prentice, J, 2017, Level II building recording at West Lodge, Ecton, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN111396.

<2> Crank, N. (Editor), 2018, South Midlands Archaeology (48), p. 59 (Journal). SNN111393.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2025 8:14PM