Late 18th century granary, Roundbush Farm (EHER 81692)

A late 18th century or early 19th century two-storeyed timber framed granary on a brick plinth. It is weatherboarded and has a steeply-pitched boarded roof now covered in corrugated asbestos, although was previously thatched. It abuts the mid to late 19th century engine shed (EHER 81691) to the west.

January 2001. Heritage assessment. A late 18th century or early 19th century granary. This is a two-storeyed timber framed building raised up on a high brick plinth. It is weatherboarded and has a steeply-pitched boarded roof now covered in corrugated asbestos, although the valuations of 1822, 1825 and 1845 describe it throughout as being thatched. It is a good example of non-integrated timber framing: the walls are divided into three bays by full-height storey posts, but these posts do not carry either tiebeams or binding joists. There is just one, central, tiebeam, and the main joists across the building simply rest on the front and back midrails. Theoretically this could mean the whole floor is inserted, but this is unlikely in view of the first floor windows. The present ground floor level is almost three feet lower than the original suspended granary floor. Although the brick plinth is now continuous all round, apart from later breaches, a regular pattern of vertical joints and variation in colour indicates that it was first designed as a series of brick pillars. The narrowing of the brickwork beneath the groundsill leaves an inner 'shelf' on which the joists could rest. These supported a boarded floor with plenty of air circulating below, suitable for storing corn. The entrance door was accessed directly from the back of a cart, with which it was level. During the 20th century, this floor was removed and the rest of the brick plinth infilled, quite skilfully. An opening was breached through into the mid to late 19th century engine shed (EHER 81691), the front door was widened and the present double doors put in. Some of the (probably original) brick infill between the timbers has gone. The present ground flooring is concrete and the roof is covered in corrugated asbestos. The boards of the first floor have deteriorated and a second layer of floorboarding has been laid over the top, which has also deteriorated. In some places, horizontal boards have been nailed to the studs, especially at skirting level on the first floor. It was usual to line timber granaries with flush horizontal boarding, to strengthen the wall and to avoid losing grain around the edges, although it was not so necessary if there was flush brick infill. The granary - or a building of the same size in the same location - can be seen on the Map Book of 1829/30 and on all the subsequent maps. The 1783 insurance policy does not mention a granary at all, just the wheat barn, oat barn, cowhouse and stable. This would suggest a date bracket of 1783-1829, which would be consistent with the carpentry. <1> See photos <2>.