Barn 80 Metres South West Of Ringshall Hall

The building, located 80 metres southwest of Ringshall Hall, is a barn, possibly originally a manorial court hall, that has been converted into a barn and again converted in 1993 into a house. It dates from around the later 16th century, with further alterations in the 18th century and 1993. The construction is timber frame with weatherboarding and plastered sections, set on a brick plinth. The roof is Roman pantile, with gabled ends, a hipped midstrey (central section), and corrugated sheet steel over outshuts. The barn originally comprised 7 bays, with the central 3 bays open to the roof and the 2-bay ends floored over with chambers above; the western end’s 2 bays are wider. The original upper floors were removed, and a midstrey was built on the south front to the east of the centre, likely in the 18th century. Later outshuts have been added to the south side. The north front is weatherboarded on the right, plastered and weatherboarded on the left, and features a large cart entrance with plank double doors to the left of centre. The south elevation is plastered on the left and weatherboarded to the right, with a weatherboarded hipped midstrey to the right of centre and outshuts to the left and right. Inside, the space is open to the roof, with no partitions as of 1993. The timber frame remains largely intact, exhibiting wall-posts, sole and wall-plates, a midrail, close-studding, and tension braces. Curved braces support the tie-beams. The roof structure includes two tiers of side purlins, tenoned lower and upper purlins, curved wind-braces clasped above the collars, and a later ridge purlin. Several diamond mullion windows have been rebated to accommodate glass, including large first-floor windows in bays 1 and 2 at the east end. The roof shows no signs of smoke-blackening. The manor of Ringshall was inherited by Sir Thomas Gresham, and it is thought he may have constructed the building.