Barn Immediately To North West Of Wards Farmhouse

This barn, located immediately to the north-west of Wards Farmhouse, dates from the late 16th century to the 18th century. It features eight bays and is constructed from timber framing with weatherboarding, topped by a corrugated asbestos roof that has two levels; it is gabled on the south-west side and hipped on the north-east. The six bays on the north-east exhibit high-quality framing with a middle rail and two wide cross-entries that have been infilled with later brickwork and studding. The three end bays on the north-east have queen-post roof trusses, which originally included two pairs of arched braces, a distinctive characteristic. Evidence of partitions at each end of these three central bays, with one section still showing remaining weatherboarding, indicates that they were part of the original structure, which was extended soon after on the north-east side and again in the 18th century on the south-west side. The two south-western bays have a lower roof level and incorporate a number of reused timbers. This barn is recognized as the oldest surviving barn in Thelnetham.