Sixteenth century double Essex barn and 19th century granary at Old Hyde Farm, Little Yeldham Road (EHER 80305)

A 16th century timber framed ‘Double Essex Barn’, with 18th, 19th and 20th century alterations. Attached to the SE is a 19th century granary. The barn was originally built with five bays, then extended and two porches added in the early 19th century. Both buildings underwent extensive alterations in the 20th century to facilitate their combined use as a workshop.

May 2017. Heritage assessment. A 16th century timber framed ‘Double Essex Barn’, so called for it has two full height porches on the Western elevation, with 18th, 19th and 20th century alterations. Attached to the SE is a 19th century granary. Originally constructed as a five-bay timber barn, the two Southernmost bays, and the one Northernmost bay were probably added circa 1800, along with two porches to the Western elevation, and an aisle to the Eastern elevation. This phase of construction gave the barn its 'Double Essex' format, and was typical of the Napoleonic War Era which ignited the rush for farms to convert to grain production to capitalise on the grain embargo imposed during the hostilities from AD1799 to AD1815. The outshuts between the porches of the barn were first put up in the later 19th century to provide more storage and working space. Old Hyde Farm underwent extensive redevelopment in the years between 1923 and 1954, and probably mostly during WWII, and the barn was altered with Crittall style rolled steel casements and an asbestos roof. The weather-boarding was also entirely replaced. Map evidence suggests the Southern outshut was preceded by an earlier structure which was demolished before 1923, and probably rebuilt during this time, in-filling the gap between the barn and the granary. In the late 20th century, the building became used as workshops and the North and South elevations each have an extensive range of 20th century rolled steel lights for this purpose. Internally, the barn is now divided into three large spaces with late 20th century partition walls, and 20th century iron work and machined timber reinforces the structure. The central space is used as a woodworking store and a sawmill and is outfitted with racks, ladders and machines as well as a copious amount of timber. The only machine of interest is a mid 20th century bandsaw made by Metalclad Ltd of Neath, Glamorgan, a company operating in the 1930’s and 40’s. The Northernmost bay has a 20th century inserted mezzanine floor. The ground floor is a working woodworking shop with very modern 21st century machinery and the upper floor is now a store room. The central outshut is equipped as a workshop and office, and the Southern outshut, although built as a work shop, is now outfitted as a games room The granary. The Southern bay impinges on the granary. It is highly probably that the granary was originally built a few years after 1841 as a standalone timber framed building, then converted into a granary with stable below as part of the 20th century reorganisation of the farm. In the mid 19th century, it was underbuilt in flint and brick and a lean-to extension added to the West elevation. The Northern elevation has been underpinned in brick to the first floor and mid 20th century casements and a door added. Until recently, this building was used as a workshop and retail store for a wood turning business operating out of the barn. Inside, the granary floor has been divided up into grain bins that were originally boarded out – now only a few boards remain. <1>