Mid to late 19th century cow shed, Roundbush Farm (EHER 81689)

A mid to late 19th century open-fronted cattle shed on the site of pigsties and henhouses at EHER 81688 by 1845. It is timber framed with one brick-built wall and of four bays, with a roof covered in 20th century carved tiles. The floor is of beaten earth, and probably always has been. It abuts the former stable and cart shed (EHER 81688) at its south end and formerly abutted an earlier timber framed cowhouse to the north (EHER 81698).

January 2001. Heritage assessment. A mid to late 19th century open-fronted cattle shed on the site of pigsties and henhouses (EHER 81688) by 1845. By 1873, however, the 25" OS map shows the present building, facing onto an enclosed yard. The 1895 OS map shows that it was open-fronted. It has a Flemish bond brick back wall and is of four bays, the bay divisions being marked by projecting brick piers, which support the roof trusses. It has a king post roof of machine-sawn timber, with an iron tie rod as king post. Raking struts support the principal rafters, which have purlins trenched into their backs. These in turn support the common ratters, which are angled at about 45 degrees. The timbers are secured to the adjacent ratters with iron straps. The remains of two hanging knee brackets survive on the central truss. The floor is of beaten earth, and probably always has been. All these features are consistent with a mid 19th century date. There have been alterations to tile building since then. It would originally have had timber posts at the front, with the characteristic T-pads above them supporting the wallplate. Only one of these posts survives, in the NE corner. The other three have been replaced by steel stanchions on concrete pads. The building stops rather unsatisfactorily at its north end. This is probably because it originally abutted an earlier timber and thatched cowhouse, which survived until recently. In addition, a doorway, now with a modern steel and wooden slatted door in it, was inserted in the brick west wall at the north end, exactly on a bay division. The original brick pier was removed and rebuilt further south, the other side of the doorway. The tiebearn was also removed. Instead, an iron tie-rod was inserted, spanning the roof at an angle, from the timber front post to the newly rebuilt brick pier. The roof is now clad in curving concrete tiles, probably replacing plain clay tiles or perhaps slates. <1> See photos <2>.