Mid 19th century timber framed barn at Lanham Manor Farm, Cressing (EHER 80131)

A mid 19th century timber framed 10 bay barn, completed in 1855 by master carpenter Anthony Ayton for the farmer Lawrence Orpen. The barn once formed part of a planned farm layout (now demolished) which incorporated provision for livestock. A lean-to and new fenestration were added sometime between 1938 and 1955, after the farm was acquired by Francis Crittall, who had established a factory and model village at Silver End.

October 2022. Heritage assessment. A mid 19th century timber framed 10 bay barn, completed in 1855 by master carpenter Anthony Ayton for the farmer Lawrence Orpen. It is orientated on a NW-SE axis and built parallel to the course of Lanham Farm Road. It has gable ends to the NW and SE, and is clad in softwood feather-edged weatherboards. The shallow pitched roof is re-covered in corrugated iron panels. The barn once formed part of a planned farm layout (now demolished) which incorporated provision for livestock. The barn is laid out over ten, in line bays, but is internally divided into two separate five bay units. There are two, large, bay wide, openings (to former midstreys), central to each of the five bay barns, along the SW elevation. The corresponding midstrey openings to the roadside have however been blocked when the lean-to was added. Six metal-framed Critall windows are present above the lean-to along the roadside elevation. A lean-to and new fenestration were added sometime between 1938 and 1955, after the farm was acquired by Francis Crittall, who had established a factory and model village at Silver End. This is a low, single storey, part open-sided structure, which extends the full length of the roadside elevation. It is roofed with corrugated asbestos and clad in similar weatherboard to the barn. <1>