Post-medieval farm complex at Waters Farm (EHER 4443)

A largely post-medieval farmhouse and farm buildings, located on a medieval moated site. The threshing barn and adjacent buildings were recorded in 2021.

19th century farmhouse. <1> <2> Farmhouse and farm buildings largely post-medieval and located on medieval moated site. Adjoining agricultural buildings, consist of timber-framed threshing barn of probable post-medieval date; a duplex cattle/dairy shed with timber frame and stone brick floor, of later construction date to the barn; and a timber framed, general agricultural storage shed again of a later construction date to the barn. <2> 2021. Building survey. There are four distinct construction phases within the range, the initial being the threshing barn, which may have its original layout origins with the medieval moated farmstead. The orientation of the barn northeast-southwest length ways with the opposing doorways directed on the northwest-southeast axis, is a typical design choice in orientating a threshing barn. The placement of structure A (Threshing Barn) has therefore dictated the orientation of the entire range, indicating the threshing barn must have been a component of the earliest construction phase of the range. Structure A is difficult to accurately date; the layout and typological evidence suggest this barn was certainly used for threshing. Threshing and the subsequent wheat grain productions was probably the most important agricultural industries in the UK from the Medieval period to the 19th century providing the basis for the British staples of ale and bread. There is no certainty of an early construction date and the building has been heavily rebuilt, including being reroofed. Prescribing a medieval date of construction would be largely based on circumstantial evidence as to the medieval date of the original moated farmstead, as well as the rich medieval heritage of Hatfield Broad Oak. Structure B1 is also difficult to attach a date of construction. Typologically it is superficially a generic farm structure that has been applied the same exterior finish of weather board, and ceramic tile (although different in the use of red tile as opposed to grey tile) as the earlier constructed threshing barn. Internally again both barns use queens truss timber framing. The phasing between the two barns can clearly be seen as structure B1 looks to be almost dependent on structure A for support, as the north end elevation of B1 is largely made up of the south end elevation of structure A. This would be a logical solution to creating that internal wall in B1 if you were simply constructing B1 onto the end of A Structures B2 and C seem to be on of the same in there construction phase, the plan layouts are the same as are the apex heights and there is visible evidence of any construction seam between the two. B1 and B2 are clearly intended for use by livestock, with trough and hay manger still in-situ, and the stone brick floors with stone drain and culvert, providing easy effluent drainage and cleaning. The height of the troughs and hay mangers (the latter 2 metres at its highest point) suggest the livestock using the stalls must be cattle. Which then invites the question as to function, winter housing or milking, of which both could be viable options. Sheds specific to milking tend to be designed with ease of moving the cattle through the shed in mind. Often the sheds have an in and out door for the cattle and often an additional separate doorway for human use as a way of avoiding trampling and crushing. Structure C has no clear function, and that maybe its function as general purpose storage shed, tethering livestock, or for storing farming equipment. Structures B1, B2 and C are fairly generic agricultural buildings, certainly not of a medieval or even an early modern typology date, but certainly any date from the 18th century onwards. <3>