Barn At Wildings

Barn. The barn likely dates to around 1600, but was largely rebuilt in the 20th century following storm damage. It is a timber-framed structure of five bays, built on a stone and modern brick plinth. The barn features a central waggon bay. The sole plate, mid rail, and top of the wall plate are primarily of modern oak, pegged in a traditional manner. Most of the upright posts are original, with the exception of one corner post, and retain jowls. During reconstruction, the curved tension braces in the wall frame were replaced; four of the sixteen are original. Original tie beams, queen posts, and collar beams remain, along with eight curved wind braces made of 20th-century oak. On the interior side of the frame, the tops of the gable end posts and doorway posts are angle braced off the intermediate rails. Nine out of twenty-eight rafter pairs are original. A double plate is situated above the south doorway. A 20th-century oak bressumer with run-out stops was inserted to one side of the central door.

Alternatively, the barn is circa 1600 and is timber-framed, with weatherboard cladding replacing original wattle and daub infill panels. The roof is steeply pitched and covered with corrugated asbestos sheeting, replacing what was originally thatch. The barn has five bays, with a waggon way through a control bay featuring opposing doors. There are jowelled bay posts and a central post in each gable end wall, as well as a central rail and stud in each side bay and between the gable end posts. The tops of gable end posts and doorway posts are angle braced off the intermediate rails. Queen strut trusses feature with collars and braced principal beams. Continuous purlins are present, along with evidence of wind braces in the central bay. A double plate covers the south doorway, and a panel sits above the lower lintel over the north doorway. Evidence suggests a former lean-to extension in the west gable wall’s framing. The west wall has been largely reframed. It is a rare example of a gabled barn in southeast England.