19th century granary and shed at Beaumont Otes, Chignall St. James (EHER 80772)

Two 19th century farm buildings that have since been demolished.

February 2020. Level 3 building survey. Beaumont Otes is legible from Woodhall Hill as a historic farmstead in a derelict condition. The site of the existing open yard was the site of the farmhouse in the late 16th century. Building 6 is the ‘skeleton’ of a small 19th century granary on the southern side of the yard. Parts of its remaining frame have been repaired with metal sleeves. A few hand-cut timbers are incorporated into the frame, e.g. the tie beams and have no doubt been reused from earlier agricultural buildings on the site. There is a modern roof structure, in some cases ‘doubling-up’ earlier rafters. Building 7 comprises two standing stretches of 19th century wall. These are the vestigial western and central walls of what was once a double-sided, open fronted structure. The roof and northern side of this building can be seen on the 1960 aerial photograph. Blockwork partitions and troughs suggest that the southern side of this building was in use as a shelter shed or possibly cowhouse in the mid to late 20th century (possibly a calf house distinct from the covered yard to the north). <1>