Barn North East Of Heathlands Farmhouse

Barn North East of Heathlands Farmhouse, Warburton

This is a cruck barn dating from the 15th to 16th century, with substantial alterations and additions from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. The building is constructed from a variety of red brick, mostly dating to the 18th century, with a slate roof that has been partly removed. Two complete cruck trusses and one original purlin survive within the structure.

The barn comprises three bays, with crucks positioned between the inner bays and an upper floor for hay storage. A small outshut with a catslide roof extends from the main roof at the north end on the east side, while a larger outshut with a raised roof in the main building stands at the southern end. Single storey pigsties are attached to the southern end.

The west elevation features a door to the left and another towards the right end, with three scattered windows between them and a further window to the right of the right-hand door. There is evidence of an altered opening at the centre, marked by a brick relieving arch that extends beyond the central window. To the right of the right-hand door, a break in the brickwork and the remains of a stone sill survive at the base. The right, or south, gable has a lower section containing two pig sties. Evidence of roof line raising to the right (rear) is visible on the gable end. The left, or north, gable contains a blocked first-floor window and a bricked-up entrance with an arched lintel. Purlins, numbering two to the left and one to the right, extend beyond the wall plate. The rear, or east, elevation includes a single storey catslide outshut to the right, a central door, and an extended outshut to the left featuring a raised catslide roof line. This extended outshut has a door and first-floor window facing inwards.

The interior contains three rooms on the ground floor, with the northern cruck incorporated into one dividing wall and the southern cruck positioned close to another. Two intact cruck trusses survive with pegged tie beams, wind bracing and collars, and an original purlin on the west side. The east side purlin was reused in the pig sties during the 1880s-90s. Common rafters and other roof timbers were replaced in the 20th century. The original outer east wall to the south end features blocked arched openings. The south outshut retains the remains of cattle stalls. An open upper floor extends across the main barn.

The crucks are likely to date between 1450 and 1600 based on comparative analysis. The brick walls are probably 18th century in the main, possibly contemporary with the late 18th-century farmhouse alongside. It is likely that supporting end crucks were removed at the time the brick walls were constructed. The stone plinth predates the brick walls. The tithe map of 1834 shows the barn, and the first edition Ordnance Survey marks it as part of Mossend Farm in largely its present form. Widespread improvements to the Egerton-Warburton estate, of which this farmstead was part, occurred during the 1880s and 1890s. The outshuts, raised roof, and construction of the pig sties likely date to this period. The slate roof also dates to this period and was probably originally thatched. The barn was reroofed in the 20th century using original slates.