Barn To South West Of Brick House Farm

The barn located to the southwest of Brick House Farm is an early 17th-century structure, possibly dating to around 1610, which coincides with the construction of Brick House Farmhouse. It is timber-framed and covered in tarred weatherboarding, topped with gabled plain-tiled roofs. The barn features a central projecting midstrey on the southwest side, which includes double doors, and a later pair of doors situated in the center of the northeast wall.

Inside, the barn consists of five bays with unjowled posts, mid-height girts, and a contemporary midstrey. It showcases substantial curved wall bracing, typically of the "tension" type, which interrupts the studs. Uniquely, the midstrey is supported by a pair of "arch-braces" that are more common in the area. The tiebeams have straight braces, although some are missing, and the roof is constructed with Queen posts that support pairs of joggled purlins. The bays adjacent to the midstrey feature curved raised bracing to the purlins, as does the front of the midstrey roof. Notably, the end gables include "interrupted tie-beams" above the standard tie-beams, which frame loading hatches.

Historically, this barn is likely contemporary with the farmhouse. While double purlin roofs are uncommon in this part of Essex, there are a few examples found in the southwest of the county.