Building record MCC10386 - Farm buildings at Green Acres, Foxes Lane, Eight Ash Green

Summary

Two mid 19th century farm buildings (Stable 1 & Threshing Barn 2), within the curtilage of Green Acres (NHLE no. 1239672).

Location

Grid reference Centred TL 9265 2564 (17m by 25m) (3 map features)
Map sheet TL92NW
County ESSEX
Civil Parish EIGHT ASH GREEN, COLCHESTER, ESSEX

Map

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

Two farm buildings (Stable 1 & Threshing Barn 2), within the curtilage of Green Acres (NHLE no. 1239672), were recorded by Leigh Alston in 2018. Other buildings were demolished in the 1980s or 90s.<1>

The stable (1), to the south of the farmyard, comprises a pantiled building to the south of the yard has operated as a stable in recent years but was almost certainly an enclosed cattle shed when first built in the mid-19th century. It was shown on the Ordnance Survey of 1876 but not the 1839 tithe map and dates from c.1860. The structure extends to 11m in length x 5m in width on an approximately east-west axis and its walls rise to 2.1m at their eaves. The original building was altered almost beyond recognition when it was ‘restored’ in the Mock Gothic taste during the late 20th century. The roof structure was entirely renewed in modern softwood and its pitch appears shallower than shown on the aerial photographs of the 1970s. The original walls were timber-framed and weatherboarded but were altered, again during the late 20th century. The building was demolished in 2019, following planning permission for a replacement in 2018.

The timber-framed and weatherboarded barn (2) adjoining the road occupies much the same site as its predecessor shown in 1839 but is a complete reconstruction of c.1860 and would have been new when depicted in 1876. The building is unusually tall and narrow, extending to 15.25m in length x 5m in total width on an approximately north-south axis and rising to 4.6m at its eaves. It was entered from the road on the east by full-height doors in its central bay but a rear porch with a wide, low doorway projected by 3.8m towards the animal yards on the west and was flanked by pantiled lean-to sheds (2b and 2c). The northern lean-to retains a 19th century hay rack and manger at a height that suggests it formed a stable rather than a cow shed initially (and corresponds with the divided yard shown on early maps). The walls consist of vertical studs interrupted by straight diagonal primary braces that are nailed rather than pegged to the frame, and the storey posts are secured to the tie-beams of the shallow-pitched slate roof by iron straps. There is some evidence of re-used timber, including a tie-beam with arch-brace mortises, but most was cut for the barn. A milling loft of softwood joists was inserted into the northern end of the building during the 20th century and the weatherboarding has been recently renewed except where protected by the lean-to sheds.

Sources/Archives (1)

  • <1> Historic Building Recording: Alston, Leigh. 2018. Farm Buildings at Green Acres, Eight Ash Green, Essex. Heritage Asset Assessment.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Dec 5 2019 3:35PM

Comments and Feedback

Do you have any more information about this record? Please feel free to comment with information and photographs, or ask any questions, using the "Disqus" tool below. Comments are moderated, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible.