SNN108443 - Historic Building Recording of the Farm Buildings North of Wateryard Spinney, Water Lane, Chelveston, Northamptonshire

Building recording of a range of agricultual buildings to the north of Wateryard Spinney was undertaken in advance of conversion of the buildings to a single dwelling. The farm buildings formed part of the Hall Farm estate, once beld by the Disbrowe family, who in 1919 disposed of hall Farm along with a number of other local agricultrual holdings be auction. The building recording established that the barn is the earliest building in the complex dating from the late 18th or early 19th century. It is the only building which retains its original pegged roof trusses and much of its roof structure. Despite later alterations the barn retains many interesting features, including ventilation slits and owl holes, synonymous with its granary use, and a large and decorative mortice lock, providing security for the grain. The barn was most likely adapted for stock-rearing in the later part of the 19th century as a response to the collapse in arable farming and a general move to stock/ dairy farming. Later alterations to the farm inlcude the remodelling and enlargement of the north range. This occurred after 1900 and may relate to the disposal/ purchase of the buildings in 1919. It is probably at this point that most of the buildings were re-roofed with side purlin roof structures in machine cut soft wood.