19th to early 20th century cart shed and shelter shed at Wolseys Farm, Duton Hill (EHER 81111)

The shelter shed and the cart shed represent the 19th to 20th century additions to yard B.

October 2008. Level 3 building survey. Shed 3 is a four-bay rectangular weather-boarded structure that belongs to the mid 19th century phase when the yards were laid out. It forms an L-shaped plan form alongside byre 4, onto which it is built; a pattern repeated in Yard C. It is similar in form and construction to shed 6 and contemporary with the barn extension 7a and stables 11. Originally built open-sided to the south, with a long 45º pitch roof hipped to the west, subsequent farm development has resulted in the infilling of the west bays, which are now used as a log store, while the remaining open bays hold kindling wood. The roof has been reclad in asbestos slates like many of the buildings, but was probably originally thatched. Across Yard B, the ground falls away to the west, and with it shed 3. As approached from the gates in the south-west corner, the main south elevation consists of two weather-boarded western bays and two open eastern bays. A single planked heck door with cast iron straps leads into the enclosed part, the exterior of which has been fabricated in a fairly haphazard fashion, with different board lengths and widths on a patchy, light frame. The eastern bays are divided by a single post. The wall plate is reused. A low concrete wall has been built between the post and enclosed bay. The west wall of the shed is built onto the main yard wall, but the rear (north) wall is built onto a neatly-built flint wall that is contemporary with the flint east retaining wall. There is a doorway on the rear, where the end juts out westwards past the log store of building 2. The cart shed is one of the most recent structures, dating to the early 20th century and possibly replacing the lodge opposite building 2 before it was made into a milking parlour. It was built open-sided away from the farm core on high ground facing onto the fields to the east. It is commonly known as the ‘bull pen’/cart shed and either of these functions could be appropriate. Certainly, its position away from the buildings connected to the dairy herd would fit, although there is no surviving evidence for animal usage. In the second half of the 20th century, the end bays were enclosed to form a workshop to repair and maintain farm vehicles, etc. This part is still used as a workshop and the rest is used as storage. The structure stands on a low orange brick plinth, with its open side facing the east under an asbestos slated gabled roof. The other sides are fully boarded on a primary-braced frame. A ladder hatch is located in the south gable, but does not correspond to an existing internal loft. Plan form is simple and regular, laid out in five bays, of which the northern two are enclosed in Fletton brickwork as the workshop. Inside are tools, workbenches and an inspection pit. A pair of sliding doors provide access and iron casement windows are situated on the east and west elevations. The open three bays are defined by 15cm-wide posts on low plinths that carry planked ties on bolted knee braces. The studs are a mixture of machine and hand-sawn timbers and the roof is clasped purlin construction with wind braces nailed to the rafters either end. <1>