Oak Hill Farm Barn

This barn, dating from 1744 with later 18th-century additions, forms an 'L' shape, comprising a four-bay rectangular barn with a single-bay midstrey and a lean-to projection to the east, aligned north-south. The structure employs timber framing of both oak and elm on a brick plinth, with weather-boarded exterior and a peg-tiled heel gabled roof, and a catslide over the lean-to. The west elevation features a central, single, timber, battened door at ground floor, and a smaller battened door beneath the eaves at the north end, likely originally leading to an upper floor or loft, although no evidence of this remains inside. Both doors have original strap hinges. The eastern elevation of the midstrey has double, timber, battened doors for cart access, with original strap hinges, though the lower battens have been sawn off and replaced with horizontal planks. The northern and southern elevations are weatherboarded and have no entrances.

The barn’s interior is of the 'post and truss' type. The main range has a roof truss with a tie beam, raking struts, and staggered tenoned purlins. The central tie-beam is carved with the date 1744, and carpenters' marks appear on all tie beams. The western wall plate has a face halved and bladed scarf joint. The wall frames are close studded, with pegged joints. A door on the southern elevation has been boarded over on the exterior. The midstrey has a clasped purlin rafter roof with collars and close studded cross frames with angled brace. Lathe and plaster infill panels remain to full height on the southern elevation. The lean-to is a later addition and features corrugated metal panels internally. A replacement concrete floor is laid throughout. Substantially complete pre-1750 farm buildings are rare, and the presence of a date on this barn is also uncommon, making it particularly worthy of preservation and aiding understanding of building development.