19th century wash house at New House Farm, Radwinter (EHER 48243)

Building record of 19th century wash house.

March 2013. Building survey. The wash house represents a typical building born of the Victorian High Farming period where there was a tendency to produce more elegant buildings to house mundane tasks. The well made brickwork with decorative flint panels were very popular in the mid 19th century and can be dated to between 1838 and 1877 by map evidence. Also by 1877 two privies had been installed, probably for use by the staff and wood stores built under the hayloft floor. Starting life as a stable with hayloft it was converted into a wash house with a large chimney and a side flue for a copper. Its use remained agricultural well into the 20th century when its roof was replaced with machine timbers for a corrugated iron roof. The chimney and copper were replaced by a large Fletton built 20th century chimney to serve the adjoining building which was converted into a cottage in the late 20th century. New doorways with concrete lintels were added to link to the garden and the rear privy. <1>