Early to mid 19th century combination farm building at Hoe Mill Barns (EHER 81964)

A farm building comprising cowhouse, cowshed, barn, granary and modern chicken shed forming the east range of the farmyard complex at Hoe Mill Barns. The buildings are timber framed and on a brick plinth, and were probably built in the 1830s-1840s. The cowhouse and cowshed seem to have been built to replace earlier structures, probably in the latter part of the 19th century, and re-use an earlier wall plinth. The barn is the most prominent feature of the farm and its midstrey contains an unusual stone threshing floor. There is a small granary next to the porch which was probably built at the same time. The farm is a rare, well-preserved example of a planned timber-built Essex farmstead, dating from the beginning of the Victorian Golden Age of Agriculture and has an important place in the history of East Anglian farming.

October 2007. Heritage assessment. Recording works were undertaken at Hoe Mill Barns, in advance of the conversion of a well preserved early 19th century planned farm complex to offices. The Cowhouse and Cowshed. The cowhouse is part of the east range of the farmyard complex, along with the cowshed, barn and modern chicken shed. It is built onto the northern end of the barn (see below) and appears to have been constructed along with the cowshed as a single build. The machine-sawn timber frame and distinctive trusses indicate the cowhouse and shed were constructed at a later date than the main farm group, probably in the latter part of the 19th century. Both seem to replace earlier structures. The cowhouse stands on the site of a building of unknown function attached to the north side of the barn, while the cowshed encompasses a small outshot attached to west side of the barn, against the porch. Their plan form cannot be distinguished on the historic maps, but the former rooflines are visible against the tarred northern walls of the barn and porch. The cowhouse is a timber framed building on an earlier wall plinth and the walls are clad in weatherboard. It has a pantile roof, gabled to the north. The north side is open-fronted and formerly provided with gates, of which one of the large timber posts remains. Inside, the structure consists of a machine-sawn primary-braced softwood frame, rather than the quirky hand-sawn timbers observed in the stables and other buildings. The cowshed is open to the west. The interior is divided into five bays by the wide trusses extending from the cowhouse and an extra short truss attached to the frame of the barn. The two north bays are separated by a wooden fence that continues into the yard. Both sides have hayracks, though the northern rack is set higher, with the southern one possibly set low for calves. The remains of the trough at this end are set quite low, again suggesting that it was set for cattle. The outline of a former lean-to can clearly be seen against the porch of the barn at this end. Doubtless it is contemporary with it as the door frame has been cut to suit the pitch of the outshot roof. The Barn and Granary. This is the most prominent element of the farm, positioned on the east side and facing west onto the yard. It has a rectangular plan, with a porch extending westwards from the centre and a raised structure, likely to be a small granary, located on the south side of the porch. The overall condition is good, though some of the boarding has failed. The midstrey contains a stone threshing floor, an unusual feature. Some of the main framing displays Baltic timber marks. The barn is raised on a brick plinth that continues to the north, below the cowhouse, as part of an earlier building. Similarly, the weatherboarded exterior continues into the cowhouse at the back, showing the cladding has been replaced at least once since its construction. The roof is covered mainly with corrugated asbestos sheeting but previously plain tiles were used, some of which remain on the porch and granary. Tall four-leafed ledged braced and battened cart doors face onto yard from the porch. Below are the remains of the timber threshold leap (3 of 5 boards) which would have contained the grain and deterred livestock from entering during threshing. The two end elevations are partly hidden by later structures, the cowhouse and the (modern) chicken run. The cart doors on this side are set low for the harvest carts to exit the barn after unloading, as the natural bank to the east would limit the manoeuvrability of fully-laden carts entering from this side. The granary, next to the porch, was probably built at the same time. It is raised on 0.7m-high brick piers to deter vermin and circulate air beneath the floor and has a central wall hatch for further ventilation. The two end elevations are partly hidden by later structures, the cowhouse and the chicken run. The cart doors on this side are set low for the harvest carts to exit the barn after unloading, as the natural bank to the east would limit the manoeuvrability of fully-laden carts entering from this side. Phasing. Investigations concluded that the barn, granary, stables (EHER 40856), shelter shed (EHER 81966) and chicken coop (EHER 81965) were built in around the 1830s-1840s, along with three other largely unidentified structures, around a single square yard. A farmhouse (EHER 81967) and hackney stable (EHER 81968) were also built on high ground to the south, but were not subject to the recording condition. During the latter part of the 19th century the farm concentrated more on cattle rearing and the shelter shed was refurbished (perhaps with cart bays included), a large cowhouse built and a new cowshed constructed against the barn. The main yard was subdivided into four separate yards. The farm is a rare, well-preserved example of a planned timber-built Essex farmstead, dating from the beginning of the Victorian Golden Age of Agriculture and has an important place in the history of East Anglian farming. <1>