Main Group Of Farmbuildings To North East Of Low Hedgeley Farmhouse

This is a planned group of farm buildings situated to the north-east of Low Hedgeley Farmhouse. The original layout, forming a foldyard, dates to the late 18th century. It was extended east around 1840-1850 to create an E-shaped plan, with a threshing barn and engine house added in the mid-19th century, and further ranges constructed in the later 19th century. A covered yard was added around 1900. The mid-19th century portions were likely designed by F.R. Wilson of Alnwick.

The original farm buildings are constructed of squared and tooled stone. The mid-19th century additions are of squared rubble with tooled-and-margined quoins and dressings, while later 19th-century ranges have smoothly-cut dressings. The structure added around 1900 is built of snecked stone. Most roofs are covered with Welsh slate, although the southern barn within the north-west range has 20th-century metal sheeting.

The north range of the original foldyard features a four-bay segmental arcade, partially blocked, with three small loft windows directly beneath the eaves. It has boarded doors and small-paned sash and fixed windows. The south ends of the original east range and the east range of the extension display Gothic detailing, with a stable door and part-slatted window, flanked by two blind windows above; the upper window is set within a stepped gable with moulded finials. The covered yard has twin gables, each with a tall central opening under a timber lintel, flanked by blind windows. All openings on this façade feature shouldered lintels.

The threshing barn, projecting to the rear from the centre of the E-plan group, has varied window openings set within alternating block surrounds. The engine house to the east has a truncated ridge stack and a large boarded door. Adjacent to the engine house is a pent cartshed with a blocked four-bay segmental arcade. The later 19th-century north range extends from the threshing barn; its west elevation showcases a five-bay arcade with timber lintels on piers with stepped corbelled heads, and part-slatted loft windows within chamfered surrounds.

The north-west range has a double-depth plan, comprising a range of byres to the west and two separate barns to the east. The southern barn of the east elevation has a large opening with a stable door to the left; a central recess between the barns has a large opening to the byres, and the north barn has a large opening with a pitching door above, with a hipped roof to the right. All large openings are topped with shouldered arches and timber lintels.

The covered yards contain queen-post roof trusses supported by axial and transverse arcades of cast-iron columns and moulded stone corbels.

Low Hedgeley became the home farm for Hedgeley Hall (formerly High Hedgeley) after the Carr-Ellison family purchased the estate around 1780.