Cruck Barn At Woodseats Farm

The cruck barn at Woodseats Farm is a barn that likely dates from the late 16th century to the 17th century, with some later rebuilding and alterations. It features cruck framing with coursed rubblestone walls, quoins, and a Welsh slate roof. The barn consists of three bays. On the north-west side, there is a lean-to that was rebuilt in the 1970s, which includes casement windows and a door, although the main walling of the barn remains intact. The south-west gable end has a door and a gable window, while the north-east gable end features a 20th-century tractor entrance with a weatherboarded gable above. The south-east side has mid-20th century buildings added to part of the front, but the original barn walling with two windows is still visible.

Inside, the barn contains two pairs of oak full cruck blades, with the south-west pair featuring a collar and tie beam, and the north-east pair having a yoke and tie beam. A single tier of massive trenched purlins and a diagonally set ridge purlin are present, along with thin wind braces. The rafters were added in the 19th century.

This barn is a notable example of cruck framing, which is an important construction tradition from the medieval and post-medieval periods. Most of the main elements of the cruck framing are well-preserved, and while the walling may date from the same period as the crucks, it could also represent a later rebuilding that still predates 1800.