Manor Farm Barn

A three-bay barn dating to the 18th century, with remodeling in the 19th century, stands to the east of the manor house. The barn is timber-framed on a brick plinth, featuring a pantile gable roof and exterior weatherboard cladding. It has a rectangular plan with outshots on the north-west and north-east elevations, and an addition to the south-east.

The south-east elevation incorporates a double door, likely original to the 18th century. The interior retains a largely intact timber frame of good quality, featuring wall posts with jowled heads, midrails and studs (some fashioned from reused timbers). The original 18th-century wall plate remains, along with the sole plate, though partially obscured by concrete render. Primary straight braces are visible in the wall frames. The clasped purlin roof is mostly original but incorporates additional nailed collars and bolted knee braces to the tie beams, replacing original straight braces. The central rear bay once included a midstrey, remodeled in the 19th century when the roof was shortened to form an outshot, and the wall frames reconstructed using reused mullions within the studwork. The double doors on the south-east elevation are likely original, bearing graffiti on the western door jamb – the initials “T L” and the numbers “753.” It is probable that the number “1” has been obscured, suggesting a construction date of 1753, consistent with the carpentry of the barn.

Located along Wickham Street, south of the village of Wickhambrook, the barn is historically associated with Brookhouse farmhouse, a 17th-century timber-framed house of group value. Concrete render was applied to the lower portion of the wall frames in the 20th century. The barn’s historical uses, most recently milling flour, are evidenced by a mezzanine and equipment at the east end.

The barn is designated at Grade II for its substantially intact timber frame of good quality, the potential 1753 construction date indicated by carvings on a door jamb, and its group value with Brookhouse Farm.