South barn at Evenwood Farm

South barn at Evenwood Farm

A timber-framed, weather-boarded barn of 18th-century date with 19th-century alterations, standing on the south-west side of the unclassified road between Kenley and Acton Burnell.

The farmstead is arranged as a U-plan with the south barn forming part of a group of two parallel agricultural building ranges. The south barn and a cattle shed to the north are linked by a covered yard, creating a central fold yard. A granary (Grade II) stands at the south-west corner of the southern barn, and immediately north of the farmhouse is a range of stables with ancillary facilities (Grade II).

The barn is a single-storey linear range of six bays, constructed on a low rubble plinth with sections that have been repaired or replaced. The elevations are largely clad in horizontal weather-boarding; the west gable is clad in corrugated metal sheeting with boarding to the gable. Various openings are present on the long north and south elevations, and a doorway marks the east gable end. The doors on the south side are mostly crude batten and plank structures, including a stable door. The northern openings have sliding framed and ledged doors. The roof is pitched and clay tiled. Brick has replaced timber framing in the north side of the westernmost bays, particularly where the north elevation of the west end is enclosed within the covered yard. Various other repairs and additions have been made in brick and concrete.

Internally, the barn is a timber-framed post and beam structure of six bays. Each bay has deep corner posts supporting wall plates and queen post trusses with deep trenched purlins. The elevations and bay partitions sit upon low plinth walls. Although some alterations have been made, the original structure appears to have had sole and wall plates with upright posts and struts. Some timbers show evidence of reuse. The internal members of the easternmost truss have been replaced with a kingpost and raking struts. The roof has coupled rafters and a ridge board, probably replaced in the later 19th century.

The lower part of the north elevation of the second bay has been rebuilt in concrete block to form a trough, suggesting its former use as a cattle loosebox. The easternmost four bays are divided internally by stud partitions, generally featuring stout uprights with struts and clad in horizontal boarding. The third cell has a brick floor with a central gulley and stable door. The westernmost bay partition is brick. The western two-thirds of the north elevation was rebuilt in brick when the covered yard was constructed in the late 19th century. The two westernmost bays contain three cattle stalls with timber partitions and brick and timber mangers, with a brick floor and drainage gulley. A feeding passage runs along the southern side.