Barn C.20M North West Of Foxrush Farmhouse

Threshing Barn, mid 18th century

This rectangular brick barn stands approximately 20 metres north west of Foxrush Farmhouse on Kirkleatham Lane. It is roofed with clay pantiles and finished with stone ridge and gable copings.

The barn originally formed the rear range of an E-plan model farmstead and retains evidence of its original sub-division at the east end, which probably functioned as a straw room. The north face features a centrally placed opening, now fitted with mid-20th century boarded sliding double doors, alongside boarded doors at each end. Two blocked and boarded openings at first-floor level, a blocked shaft opening for the threshing machine in the upper west end, and scattered slit breathers for ventilation are visible. The east gable end displays a blocked door to the right of a mid-19th century external stair with rendered stone steps and a 20th century handrail, leading to a boarded segment-headed loft door. A blocked segment-headed window is positioned to the right of this arrangement. The south face has a centrally placed entrance and scattered slit breathers. The barn is finished with a three-course stepped brick eaves cornice and block kneelers.

The interior shows brick pilasters along both sides rising to a wall plate, supporting a King Post roof structure. The west end has been partially subdivided in recent times.

The barn was constructed as part of Charles Turner's improvements to the extensive Kirkleatham Estate in the late 1750s. Turner consolidated his land holdings, completed enclosure of farmland, and introduced new farming practices, constructing eleven new model farmsteads including Foxrush Farm, which were admired by agricultural journalist Arthur Young in 1768. The barn and its associated stable are recorded on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1857 as the rear range and western arm of the E-plan farmstead. Subsequent maps confirm the footprint remained largely unchanged until the 20th century, when the gin gang to the rear was removed and the east courtyard infilled with modern barns; the stable range has since collapsed.

The mid-20th century byre enclosing the eastern courtyard, the stable adjoining the east side of the byre, the implement shed and attached lean-to adjoining the west end of the barn, and the east and south walls of the former stable range attached to the south side of the barn are not of special interest.