17th to 18th century byre/cow house at Wolseys Farm, Duton Hill (EHER 81112)

The byre was difficult to phase but is likely 17th to 18th century and located in yard B.

October 2008. Level 3 building survey. The byre is one of the more difficult structures to interpret within the group, containing different build phases. There are signs that it was originally part of the early pre-improvement farmstead, created as a 17th century byre; an animal shed open-sided to the west. Unfortunately it is not shown on early (late 18th century) mapping, but early maps can be inaccurate anyway. It is believed that in the 18th century an extension was added to the south and the front wall filled-in to form a stable for working horses. Its wattle and daub panels were removed and the frame boarded internally and externally. Additional tie beams were added during a 19th century refit, whose uneven nature show they were fitted during the 19th century improvement phase. Externally, the weather-boarded walls stand on a low brick plinth, with the main 18th century elevation facing the west. Inside are three unequal bays, with another added on the south end. The interior contains the remains of five modern brick stalls, presumably for cattle. The asbestos clad roof is hipped to the north (with a small gablet) but half-hipped to the extended south bay. As neither gable was prominent, this difference between the two ends was apparently not seen as a particular incongruity. The building is racking to the east, and probably has been for some time. Diagonal timber struts have been added against the west wall and the opposite wall has a high rebuilt plinth and strengthened studwork. At the time of the survey the building was functioning as a store for all manner of things, though this did not impede recording works. The front elevation stands on a 1m-high brick plinth, consolidated at the base with concrete against the fall of the land. The main features are two fixed eight-pane Victorian windows either side, with half-heck doors to the left in both cases. The door to the north retains wooden latches that have been preserved through protection from shed 3. If this is an original feature, then this end was enclosed as a loose box, but a missing tie beam to this bay makes this hard to prove. The door further to the south has more common iron fixtures, with a wooden slatted vent above. Between the door and north window is an iron grilled vent, closed off on the inside by a wooden shutter, another sign of animal accommodation. <1>