Early to mid 19th century chicken coop at Hoe Mill Barns (EHER 81965)

A small timber framed chicken coop raised on a high brick plinth, and with weatherboard cladding. It has a few interesting details such as a ledged battened and braced door with barley-twist latch which was positioned to allow for eggs to be collected from within the farmhouse and without entering the yard. It was probably built in the 1830s-1840s.

October 2007. Heritage assessment. This small rather understated structure is likely to date from the foundation of the farm in the early 19th century and contains some interesting features. It is built within the southern boundary wall, close to the corner with the shelter shed (EHER X), which represents the western range of the farm complex. It is raised on a high brick plinth (to resist the pressure of high ground behind), with a timber primary-braced frame and weatherboard cladding. Laid on a rectangular plan form, orientated west to east, the roof is tiled at the front with slates to the back. The interior has a brick floor. The main north elevation, facing the yard, has few features apart from the entrance into the coop, which is set 1m off the ground to deter foxes and would have allowed the chickens access to the south yard for exercise. The original ramp that led down to the yard is no longer present. The two gable elevations each have wooden ventilation slats close to the apex and the west side has a ledged battened and braced door with barley-twist latch. Its position meant that eggs could be collected (from the farmhouse) without entering the yard. On the west side is a modern chicken-wire run entered from a vertical wall hatch. The south-elevation, facing the slope up to the farmhouse, contains a small mesh window. Nesting boxes, each holding up to six birds, are attached up to window level on the south wall, but would have originally lined all the walls. Investigations concluded that the barn, granary (see EHER 81964), stables (EHER 40856), shelter shed (EHER 81966) and chicken coop 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>