Site of late 18th century or early 19th century timber framed oat barn, Roundbush Farm (EHER 81693)

Now destroyed. A late 18th century or early 19th century timber framed 'oat barn' which was probably built at sometime between 1780 and 1850. The barn is of five bays, with the threshing floor in the centre. It was demolished sometime after the 2001 surveys. The building abut the mid 19th century cart shed EHER 81694 to its south.

January 2001. Heritage assessment. A late 18th century or early 19th century 'oat barn'. A timber and thatched 'Oat Barn' is mentioned in all the insurance documents from 1783 to 1845, and a barn in this position appears on all the 19th century maps, the earlier ones showing a rear wagon porch to the north. The barn is of five bays, with the threshing floor in the centre, and is shorter and narrower than the wheat barn (EHER 81690). It had a consistently lower insurance value in the documents than the other buildings. As well as being smaller, it is made of rougher timber than the wheat barn, some of it re-used. It has a butt-purlin roof, set at a steeper pitch of about 50 degrees. It has hanging knees, and the timber slots for the leap still survive. Like the wheat barn, it has 'valley board' roof bracing over the unsupported doorways, although in this case the 1829/30 and Tithe maps do indicate a north porch. The walls have primary straight bracing, and have in some areas been re-studded. There is some brick infill and a large patch of replacement brickwork. It was probably weatherboarded from the outset. Like the wheat barn, there is nothing especially distinctive about the style or carpentry: it continues the local vernacular tradition common to most post-mediaeval barns. Hanging knees (derived from shipbuilding) are found from the late 18th century onwards. The fact that it is of axed rather than machined timber suggests that it is older than the present wheat barn, but not significantly so: perhaps built between 1780-1850. <1> See photos <2>.