Barn And Cow House About 30 Yards South Of Oldhouse Farmhouse

The barn and cow house, located about 30 yards south of Oldhouse Farmhouse, is likely from the late 17th century or early 18th century, with an extension added in the early 19th century. The structure is built of rubble and timber-frame, featuring weatherboards and a corrugated iron roof. It consists of three bays, which were extended to the rear to create a full three-bay length catslide roof and a lean-to, as well as an additional bay to the north during the early 19th century. The base and end walls are made of rubble, and the east side has a deep plinth formed by stone flags-on-end, about one panel high.

The entrance to the original three bays is located in the center, featuring full-height doors, while the north extension has segmental headed openings with a ledged door. The north end gable includes a segmental head for the loft, and the rear extension has a low oak-framed entrance at the south end.

Inside, the main three-bay section has raking struts from ties on very heavy posts with elongated jowls. The southernmost tie-beam has cracked and been underpinned with rubble. Corner posts are supported by short diagonal ties that triangulate with the wall-plates. Stone flags-on-end with rails on top separate the threshing floor from the adjacent bays. The studs are massive, some resting on one-foot-high heel-plates, and there are two panels between the top of the rubble base or stone flags and the wall-plates. The rails are grooved on top and drilled underneath to accommodate staves for wattle, indicating that the current weatherboards are alterations. The rear lean-to features heavy pegged half trusses with low angled principal rafters linked to half tie-beams by vertical struts. The half ties are set on the studs of the west wall of the barn, which opens to a pair of ledged doors from the 17th or 18th century, standing only about six feet high.