Great Barn Circa 100 Metres West Of Gawthorpe Hall

The Great Barn, located approximately 100 metres west of Gawthorpe Hall, is a large aisled barn dating from around 1605, with slight alterations made between 1850 and 1860. As of 1984, it is undergoing restoration and adaptation for use as an arts centre. The barn is constructed from coursed sandstone rubble with quoins and features a stone slate roof that slightly overhangs the aisles. It has a rectangular plan with nine bays and aisles.

The barn has opposed segmental-headed wagon entrances leading to internal porches in the middle bay. The east side includes a chamfered doorway in the left side wall and various slit breathers, some of which are blocked. Additionally, the east side wall has three 2-light double-chamfered mullioned windows at first-floor level. The west side features various altered or blocked doorways and windows.

The north gable has three doorways, one in the centre and one at each end, all with chamfered surrounds, along with two 2-light windows on a slightly lower level on each side and breathers at four levels above. The south gable, which faces the courtyard, has 19th-century openings that were once stables, including three arched doorways, four 4-light windows above, and an arched opening in the gable. To the left of this end is a single-storey gabled extension, likely from the 18th century, featuring gable coping with kneelers and a ball finial. To the right is an attached coach house.

Inside, the barn has aisle posts on padstones approximately 2.5 metres high, with braces connecting to the tie beams and wall plate. The braced aisle ties have struts connecting to the aisle principal rafters, and the roof features a kingpost design with angle struts and trenched overlapped purlins (two pairs in both the aisles and nave). There is a stone partition wall dividing two bays at the south end. This barn is considered one of the finest aisled barns in the North West of England. It also contains ox stalls dating from around 1610-1611, which may be the earliest dated example in Britain.