Ochre Barns

Ochre Barns, Bunwell

This is a house, formerly a group of farm buildings, dating from the early 18th century, early 19th century, and converted in the early 21st century. The buildings have colourwashed timber-framed and brick walls with roofs of old pantiles in both red and black.

The complex originally formed an L-plan group of farm buildings. The largest and longest element consists of two 4-bay timber-framed barns joined lengthwise, dating from the early 18th century. A second range projects forward at 90 degrees to one end of this long range and is built of brick in the early 19th century style. Further forward still are an entrance hall and a garage/workshop. A lean-to single-storey element that occupied the angle of the L and dated from the late 19th or early 20th century was rebuilt as part of the conversion. The fenestration and doors are 20th century.

Interior

The two 4-bay timber-framed barns are joined lengthwise. The end barn, now the full-height sitting room, contains jowled corner posts, tall-panel framing, and a principal-rafter roof with collars. Bridging beams survive where a floor was previously removed long before the conversion. The building continues with a large open kitchen, then the dining room in the next barn, which also displays tall-panel framing and wind braces. Both these rooms are ceiled and retain original bridging beams and rafters, the latter covered. A window facing the rear has been inserted in both the dining room and the bedroom upstairs. These represent among very few recent cuts through the timber frame, though earlier openings exist, such as on the rear wall where the present kitchen is located. The bedrooms above have much framing visible and butt-purlin roofs. The brick range at 90 degrees to this end of the long range has been divided into further accommodation but retains its butt-purlin roof intact. The garage/workshop retains an early 19th-century tie beam truss roof. The lean-to element in the angle of the L preserves the wholly visible timber-framed wall of the barn range within this large room.

The survival of the original buildings, including jowled posts, tall-panel framing, principal-rafter roofs with collars, bridging beams, wind braces, and butt-purlin roofs, combined with its group value alongside the adjacent listed farmhouse as part of a historic farmstead, gives these buildings special architectural interest despite their conversion to residential use.