Barn At Highfield Farm

The barn at Highfield Farm is a Grade II listed building, dated 1790, with alterations from the 19th and 20th centuries. It features a timber frame with weatherboard cladding, some of which is original, set on a plinth made of brick, flint, and chalk. The roof is covered with plain tiles. The barn consists of five bays and has central, opposing cart entries, with the south side featuring a gabled midstrey. An outshut with a catslide roof has been added to the left bays on the south side. The north cart entry has double board doors, while the south cart entry has been modified, replacing the original doors with weatherboard and including a pedestrian entrance. There are 20th-century windows in the gables and a board door leading to the outshut.

Inside, the barn retains its original timber frame, which includes a sole-plate, jowelled wall-posts with both curved and straight braces connecting to the wall-plate and tie-beams, intermediate posts and studs, and a mid-rail. The roof structure consists of double purlins with principal rafter trusses; three of these trusses have curved secondary rafters supporting collars, while the others have straight secondary rafters. A plank ridge-piece with yokes at the trusses and rafters, along with straight wind braces, are also present. One of the central tie-beams is inscribed with "I H E S T 1790". Additionally, remnants of the drive mechanism for former agricultural machinery can be found attached to the frame.

This barn is a dated example of a high-quality late 18th-century timber-framed structure.