Concrete Barn

A warehouse and later barn of mass concrete construction dated around 1880.

MATERIALS: the walls are constructed of no-fines mass concrete. The angled queen post roof, suspended first floor and other structural timbers are pine.

PLAN: the building's two storeys appear to have an open internal plan. Goods appear to have been loaded into the building on the south side at first floor, and distributed to the railway via a ramp on the north side. A single internal staircase at the north of the building provides access between the floors.

EXTERIOR: the building sits beneath a hipped roof covered in slate. The long south elevation is un-rendered and has a central entrance at ground floor, beneath a wide segmental arch. On each side of the entrance are two window openings, two of which are now blocked, also beneath segmental arches formed from massed concrete. At first floor there are three square windows beneath flat timber lintels, interspaced by two large loading doors. Both of the loading doors, and the ground floor entrance have partially surviving rails or fixings from which a sliding door could be suspended.

The un-rendered west elevation is blank at ground floor and has one blocked central window, and a surviving window opening on the right hand side.

The east elevation is covered in cement render and has a central window opening at first floor.

The un-rendered north elevation borders the railway line and could not be inspected in detail. It features two window openings at ground floor, and a blocked central loading door with its base just beneath the level of the first floor, rising to the height of the eaves.

Fragments of the building's original cast iron fenestration can be seen in some of the window openings.

INTERIOR: the ground floor is divided along its length by an arcade of seven shallow, rendered, arches supporting the pine joists of the first floor. On the north side a concrete wall supports the underside of the access ramp that leads to the loading door, and a flight of steps leading to the first floor.

The first floor has no ceiling and no internal walls. Many of the original joists and floor boards survive. Centrally at the north side of the room the access ramp is set into the floor, and passes between an H-framed timber structure. This structure relieves the weight of the tie beam which would otherwise rest on the lintel of the loading bay.