L-Shaped Range Of Farm Outbuildings To The North West Of Bucks Head Farmhouse

A group of farm outbuildings, including barns and a former smithy, located to the north-west of Bucks Head Farmhouse. The buildings largely date from the mid to late 18th century, with additions and alterations in the 19th century.

The outbuildings are constructed of red brick in an English garden wall bond, set upon a plain plinth, with gables and Staffordshire blue clay tile roof coverings. The layout is irregular, forming an 'L' shape. The oldest range runs west to east, with a later, stepped range extending northwards from the west end.

The south range’s south elevation has two storeys and three bays. A full-height double doorway with plank doors in the centre bay provides access to a former threshing floor. Above the doorway are tiers of slit breathers, some now blocked. The east gable includes an inserted doorway, a louvred window, and a taking-in doorway, all set beneath brick segmentally arched heads. A tier of four slit breathers is visible at the first-floor level.

A later barn, of three bays, is attached to the north, with a lower two-storey range at the north end and a smithy extending westwards from the lower two-bay part. The barn's centre bay has a full-height opening originally concealed by a segmental arch, now partly obscured by 20th-century sliding door gear. The north bay features four diamond-shaped panels of ventilator brickwork. The south bay shows evidence of a partially built upper area with an inserted boarded opening and a small four-pane fixed light on the ground floor.

The lower two-storey range has an external stack in the centre of the west side wall, and staggered windows to the ground floor and overloft to the north. A double doorway is located in the centre of the north gable, with a taking-in door to the overloft. The west side of the smithy is open fronted, and has a single smithy window towards the east.

The interior of the earlier south barn reveals tapered King post roof trusses supported by club walls, flanking one threshing door. The roof structure includes double purlins, with struts from the King post and tie beam supporting the upper and lower purlins. The later barn has truncated principal collar trusses with lateral braces between tie beams and single purlins to the centre bay, supported on stub walls. The lower two-storey range has a single truncated principal collar truss with spur ties to wallplates. The smithy retains its original hearth.