The Wheat Barn, 35 Metres North East Of Cressing Temple Farmhouse

The Wheat Barn, situated 35 metres north-east of Cressing Temple Farmhouse, is a significant example of a medieval barn, dating from the mid to late 13th century, with alterations made in the early 16th century and the 18th century. Constructed as a timber-framed building, it is largely nogged with brick, partly weatherboarded, and has a roof of handmade red plain tiles. The barn is aligned approximately northwest-southeast, encompassing seven bays and featuring two aisles and a midstrey to the southwest.

The overall dimensions are approximately 40 metres long, 13 metres wide, and 13 metres high above the plinth, which rises to about 3 metres at the northwest end due to the sloping site. Vents are visible within the brick nogging. The main roof is characterized by gablet hips at each end, while the midstrey is half-hipped.

Detailed documentation, including measured drawings and perspective details, can be found in C.A. Hewett’s "The Development of Carpentry, L200-1700, an Essex Study" (1969), pp. 40-7, 58-61, 174, 189. Radiocarbon dating suggests construction around 1255, with further dendrochronological analysis indicating building shortly after 1280.

A major alteration occurred in the 16th century, involving the rebuilding of the walls using jowled posts. This phase included edge-halved and bridled scarfs in the wallplates, and straight or near-straight braces below the aisle ties and above some of them. The brick nogging of these walls is a later addition, likely from the 18th century, as evidenced by grooves cut into the posts to key the mortar after the timber had seasoned. Numerous studs have been replaced over time, with the least disturbed examples found in the northwest bays of the northeast wall. A substantial wallplate, 12 metres in length and retaining the matrices of open and secret notched-lap joints, has been reused from the original construction at the southeast end. Some arcade posts have been shored up due to the replacement of sills and brick footings below, a feature also present at the nearby Barley Barn. The midstrey is contemporary with the 16th-century wall alterations, and its aisle ties connect to the wallplates of the midstrey. Great doors and winnowing doors within the midstrey date from the 18th century, while the great doors on the opposite side are of the 19th century.