Granary to north-east of Bentfieldbury (EHER 36433)

Mid 19th century timber-framed granary.

2011. Building survey. The building is of two storeys and divided into four bays. The upper storey is divided into large timber grain bins with a central corridor to allow access along the floor. There is a 1950's electrically driven grain elevator that lifts grain from a hopper buried into the ground to adjustable chutes to fill each bin. The upper floor is reached by a staircase ladder to a lucam on the southern end. The ladder is on hooks to allow it to be removed. The upper storey is supported on timber posts and a central brick spine wall. Flint panelled walls have been added to either end. The spine wall was replaced in the 1970's after the original collapsed. The ground floor is divided into four stalls either side to store implements or to act as cow byres. A concrete hopper was installed in the south-west stall in 1953 to serve the elevator. The loading of the upper floor is known to have been limited to 30 tons (Farm Manager - pers. comm). The granary is a good example of mid 19th century agricultural architecture, being a purpose built multi-functional building. Like most farm buildings it has suffered due to the harsh conditions of its use not least from the abuse of large animals. It has been repaired ad-hoc using materials to hand. It is no longer suitable for modern agricultural practices and would benefit from conversion not least because it will be used, maintained and heated. <1>