16th to 17th century barn at Orchard Farm, Rickling (EHER 48949)

Farm building complex adjacent moated site.

2017. Building survey. The historic building survey and documentary research at Orchard Farm, formerly Coldhams Farm, Moat Farm and Clavering Grange Farm, has shown that the principal barn (A) has a long and complicated structural development, while the adjacent cowshed (B) is a much later addition added during a re-organisation of the farm carried out by Essex County Council between the two world wars. The present three bay barn is but a remnant of a once much larger, possibly five or six bay aisled barn. Modern stud wall infill and the absence of mortices cut into the soffit of the northernmost tie-beam, show that this cross-frame was formerly open and that the barn was, at the very least, another two bays larger, to the north . The re-organisation of the farm during the early 20th century probably accounts for its reduction in the length, an event seen if the 19th and 20th century OS maps are compared. What is not so obvious is the loss of a single aisle to the eastern elevation. Evidence of this aisle was present in the form of an open arcade, latterly closed by reused primary bracing, which extended the full length of the eastern wall. Empty mortices for paired arcade braces, some still retaining the cut off tenons, were evident in both sides of the storey posts and in the arcade plate soffits. Further evidence of an arcade was the lack of wattle features, seen as corresponding holes and grooves along the southern and western walls, confirming this elevation was open to a side aisle. By chance this side aisle is illustrated in a published account of the murder trial of Miss Holland, which took place in this very barn at the turn of the 20th century. Whilst the present roof is clearly modern, some indication of the original roof structure can be gained from photographic evidence reproduced in a sales catalogue of 1903, which clearly shows a thatched roof with a steeper pitch and a fully hipped end to the north. Although the barn has been much altered, the four main cross-frames forming the three bays and sections of wall framing, particularly the south and western walls, are original. The present wagon opening has been latterly heightened although it still likely occupies its original location and evidence suggests may have originally been enclosed by a wagon porch. Features of note are the impressive deep arch braces and the gradually swelling jowls to the storey posts. Whilst the latter has a broad date range of the mid 13th to the end of the 17th century, similar deep arch braces recorded by the author at Crabbs Green Farm in nearby Stocking Pelham, have been dated to the 16th century. The use of a edge halved and bridled scarf provides a broad date range of later 14th to mid 17th century, while side aisles more likely date from the 17th century, depending on the form of bracing (now lost). Taking these factors into account it seems likely that the barn was originally built in the later 16th to the mid 17th century as five, possibly six bay, single aisled barn with plastered elevations and a thatched roof. It is likely that the barn was originally built with a single wagon porch to the west side, as suggested by the evidence, but given the loss of the northern bays may have formerly incorporated a double midstrey. The barn appears to have been much altered following the sale of the farm in the early 20th century. The northern bay/s and the eastern side aisle were both removed, the arcade to the latter blocked, possibly re-using primary bracing from the demolished farm buildings, plinth walls were re-built and the present roof structure added following the removal of the aisle and its over-sailing catslide roof. It is during the first quarter of the 20th century and following the sites acquisition by Essex County Council in 1913 that the former historic farmstead is completely reorganised, the historic sheds demolished and the present cow shed (B) and shelter (D) and implement shed (E) are constructed. The new brick built cowshed, not open-sided like its predecessor, incorporated a taller three bay threshing barn entered from the north (and outside the stockyard) and a series of cattle loose boxes and pens opening onto the stockyard. The cowshed, or more particularly the barn (bays B1) was later (post war) converted into a dairy/milking parlour and thereafter into a piggery. The capacity and arrangement of the farm buildings, set around two small yards, seems appropriate for a small 100 acre holding. The pole barn (C) was added during the recent past. The survey has shown that the barn (A), though much compromised by later alterations, still retains the principal structural components of a later 16th to mid 17th century barn, including storey posts, tie beams and impressive deep arch braces. Despite the losses described the surviving historic frame still retains much historic significance, on a local if not regional level, although would unlikely meet the criteria for statutory designation. This project has been able to refine the suggested date range of the building and has provided a greater insight into the built form and materials used when first built. It is hoped that the proposals will be sympathetic to the historic fabric of the barn and through its future use preserve a good local example of an early postmedieval barn. <1>