Leigh Alston carried out a Level 2 historic building survey in 2016 of a redundant barn in the curtilage of a grade II-listed former farmhouse (MCC4191; early C19 red brick house with C14 rear range), to inform and accompany a planning application for conversion (Colchester Borough Council no. 161284).<1>

The barn is an unusual structure which was not shown on the tithe map but incorporates what appears to be an 18th century neat-house (cattle-shed). This shed may have been moved from the opposite corner of the cattle yard in circa 1840 and converted into a narrow threshing barn by adding a much taller porch and cutting new doors into the opposite wall. An additional bay was later added to its western gable along with a lean-to extension to the east. Pre-Victorian cattle sheds are notoriously rare, as most were rebuilt in the mid-19th century to accommodate the intensive system of mixed animal husbandry known today as Victorian High Farming. In consequence the structure remains of historic interest despite its re-use as a barn and the replacement or loss of most of its wall studs and rafters. The original internal layout can still be recognised, with an open shed of three bays to the west and a single-bay loose box with a separate entrance to the east. The main shed contained two arch-braced tie-beams with jowled posts but lacked a rear door and was only 4.9m wide and just 2.3m high at its eaves (16.25 ft by 7.5 ft). The arch braces have been removed but the tie-beams survive, as does one section of original external wall framing with primary braces interrupting the studs.