Paston Great Barn

Paston Great Barn is a barn dated 1581, constructed from coursed Quaternary flint and chert, with brick and Lincolnshire Limestone ashlar dressings, and topped with a thatched roof.

On the east side, there are two full-height double doors symmetrically placed, flanked by slated stepped buttresses, with additional stepped buttresses at intervals. The flanks feature slit lights, with the lower halves blocked. The barn has a gabled roof, and the north gable wall includes two tiers of vertical slits and another slit light at the apex. A date plaque indicates the year 1581.

The west side mirrors the east with three stepped buttresses and doors opposite the eastern entrances, along with slit lights. There is a later flint and brick engine house built against the wall, which has a hipped thatched roof. Above the south door, there is a plaque that reads: THE BILDING OF THIS BEARNE IS Bl SIR W PASTON KNIGHTE (sic). The south gable features two tiers of ventilation slits and an additional light at the apex.

Inside, the barn has ventilation slits that are splayed. The interior boasts a magnificent roof structure of alternating tie beam and hammerbeam trusses, all supported by arched braces that drop to wall posts on timber corbels. Queen struts rise to the principals and are linked to collars by arched braces, with subsidiary collars above. There are three tiers of butt purlins and curved windbracing below the second tier. The barn is also designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument, with County number 168.