Summary

C18 timber framed threshing barn with attached C19 stable.

Description

C18 timber framed threshing barn with attached C19 stable.

MATERIALS: timber frame clad in weather boarding and some corrugated iron, notably to the south-west gable end. Roof covering of pantiles.

PLAN: the barn has a rectangular plan aligned north-east south-west. On the north-west side there is an outshut at the southern end and an adjacent lean-to; and a stable at the southernmost end of the south-east side.

The slightly larger parallel range on the northern end; the large C20 open-sided shelter extending from the north-east gable end with an earlier range attached to the north end at right angles; and the open-sided shelter on the north-west side are not included in the listing.

EXTERIOR: the large barn has a steeply pitched roof with exposed rafter feet. It extends at a shallower pitch over a small outshut on the southern end of the north-west side. On the same side, to the immediate north, the roof is raised into a wedge shape over the C19 lean-to built over the former door of the threshing bay. The opposite door on the south-east side has been replaced with a plank and batten door with strap hinges. The stable at the southernmost end of the south-east side has a pitched roof with plain bargeboards. It has a stable door on the south-west and south-east sides and a double-leaf door on the gable end. A small cinquefoil window with diamond leaded lights has been inserted into the south-east wall. Some of the cladding has become detached, as has the upper part of the double-leaf door.

INTERIOR: the barn has seven bays with the former threshing floor occupying the third bay. The relatively complete timber frame is of slender scantling and has been strengthened by a number of bolted on timbers. The frame has a Queen post roof truss in which the purlins are tenoned into the jowled Queen posts, and concave braces run between the two members. The arched braces running between the main posts and tie beams have been replaced by bolted on knees. The wall frames have closely spaced posts of alternately wide and narrow section with mid-rails. There are some down braces from the jowled principal posts to the sill beam, and some short braces between the principal posts. There are mortices about mid-way up the principal posts either side of the former threshing bay which could indicate the position of low timber partitions between the threshing floor and storage bays. A plank and batten door with strap hinges, of possible C18 date, leads into the small timber framed outshut on the north-west side. This may be contemporary with the barn or added only slightly later as it has a substantial bridging beam and joists, roughly hewn. The north-west wall has a brick plinth and wide posts with down bracing. The north-east wall has been rebuilt in brick and a timber hayrack has been attached to it.

The C19 stable occupying the southernmost range on the south-east side has a timber frame of square section incorporating a few reused timbers. It has a common rafter roof with a ridge purlin and side purlins supported by collars. The wall frame consists of closely spaced posts with down braces between the principal posts and sill beam. The stable has fitted water troughs and a hayrack, and a stone floor covering. The later, two-bay, timber-framed addition to the end of the stable is built of reused timbers bolted together. The roof, although of a similar structure, is C20 in date.

The late C19/ early C20 northernmost range on the south-east side; the large C20 open-sided shelter on the north-east end of the barn and the range at right angles to its north-east end, probably of late C19/ early C20 date; and the ruinous C19 open-sided shelter on the north-west side do not possess special interest and are excluded from the listing.

History

The farmhouse at Hill Farm (Grade II) was built in the C17 and the threshing barn dates to the C18. The barn for storing and threshing corn is the most important and impressive building on a farm and is usually the largest. The traditional threshing barn plan, comprising a threshing floor with opposing doors and flanking storage bays, remained comparatively unaltered between the twelfth and early nineteenth centuries, although the gradual demise of large cross-ventilated threshing bays followed the advent of the threshing machine in the late C18. As with many agricultural buildings, the barn at Hill Farm has been altered to accommodate changes in use: extensions have been added, including a lean-to over the north-west door of the threshing bay; and there is evidence of former bay divisions that have been removed to expand the space.

The Ordnance Survey map of 1884 shows the main range of the C18 barn, aligned north-east south-west, with two extensions on the south-east side and what appears to be a large sub-rectangular extension (or possibly courtyard) on the north-west side. A long linear range extends from the north-east corner. Since then, the southernmost extension on the south-east side has been extended, and the northernmost extension has been removed. A range of similar size has been built to its immediate north-west and appears to contain some reused timbers. The large extension or courtyard on the north-west side is no longer discernible on the ground, except for an open-sided shelter which has been retained. The long linear range extending from the north-east corner has been replaced in the C20 with a large open-sided shelter which has an attached range of probable C19 date. The roof covering and timber cladding of the barn have been renewed.

Reasons for Listing

The C18 timber framed threshing barn at Hill Farm is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Architectural interest: it is a well preserved example of an C18 timber framed threshing barn and has an impressive spatial character, one of the most distinctive qualities of this building type;
* Intactness: the timber frame is substantially complete, retaining a high proportion of its Queen post roof and wall frames; and its plan form with threshing bay and contemporary (or slightly later) outshut remains legible;
* Group value: it is an integral element in the historic farmstead and has strong group value with the Grade II listed C17 farmhouse.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26676727

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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