Building record PSH 021 - Hill Farm Barns

The Hill Farm site has been in the ownership of the Scrivener family for about 400 years and the farmhouse can be dated to the early 17th century. The main barn is seven-bay threshing barn of the 18th century, rectangular in plan and is aligned on a northeast-southwest axis. The barn is timber framed on a brick plinth with a pantiled roof. The southwest gable end is clad in corrugated iron while the main southeast elevation is weather-boarded but in a patchwork of boarding following the demolition of a lower open-fronted outbuilding [the outline profile of which remains visible]. Cartographic evidence in Section 4 shows the evolution between 1883 and 1903 of the two back-to-back, 19th century open fronted sheds attached at right angles to the north end of the southeast elevation of the main demolished in the late 20th century. These outbuildings faced into the walled yards. The walls in red brick with some flint facings have almost entirely collapsed or been demolished although one small vestige remains as evidence of what stood originally. Externally the steeply pitched, pantiled roof may originally have been thatched. The main double doors to the wagon entrance have split upper and lower halves and are late 20th century replacements secured to a central vertical post. Internally the main barn comprises seven bays with the former threshing bay doors in Bay 3. The timber frame, which stands on a red brick plinth, is substantially complete although arched braces between the main posts and tie beams have been replaced by bolted on knees braces - commonly seen elsewhere to have been early 19th century alterations. The roof comprises Queen post trusses with purlins tenoned into jowelled Queen posts and concave braces connecting each Queen post with its respective purlin.The subsidiary wing extending the front of the barn in the southwest corner is comprised of a three bay stable block attached to the barn but divided into two sections. This outbuilding is timber framed with a pantiled roof (S1).