Barn approximately 80 metres to north of Copton Manor

Barn approximately 80 metres to the north of Copton Manor

A timber-framed threshing barn, probably erected in the early to mid 14th century but incorporating some reused timbers of 12th or 13th century date. The building was modified in the 18th and early 19th centuries and lost its original roof above tie beam level in the second half of the 20th century. A late 19th century extension on the western end of the north side is not of special interest.

The barn is constructed as timber framing, originally probably on a flint and stone plinth, which was replaced in brick during the 18th century. The walls are clad with weatherboard. The roof, which was still hipped and thatched in the 1940s, was subsequently replaced with corrugated asbestos.

The building is a symmetrical seven-bay barn, aisled to both sides and ends, aligned roughly east to west. It measures 36.4 metres long by 9.3 metres wide, with five full bays and two cantilevered end half bays. It originally had two threshing bays in the third and fifth bays. A mezzanine floor was later inserted into the eastern part. The three western bays on the north side have lost their aisle walls.

The north side has weatherboard cladding to the four western bays. The third bay from the west has a large gabled cart entrance with double doors. The three eastern bays were open-fronted at the time of inspection. The south side has weatherboarding over a 20th century brick plinth to the east and over an 18th century brick plinth in English bond to the west, which incorporates a brick arch leading to a void under the threshing floor. Two plank doors are present on the south side, one of 18th century date, along with a window opening with shutters and iron hinges. Further west are some small 20th century window openings. The west and east ends have weatherboard cladding.

Internally, the cross frames have mortise and tenon joints. The arcade posts are substantial timbers of roughly square section and have shouldered jowls supporting the tie beams and arcade plates. Some posts have redundant lap joints at the head and are reused from an earlier building, probably a barn rather than a domestic building as there is no trace of smoke blackening. Passing braces descend from high on the rear face of the posts into the aisles, crossing the aisle-ties by means of halvings. The wall plates are mounted on top of the aisle ties in reverse assembly. Only three sections of wall plate are used for the whole length. The two end cross frames incorporate reused timbers. The arcade plates have splayed scarfs above the threshing bays with under-squinted abutments. The aisle walls have been renewed over time but some original timbers survive at the east end, including a medieval corner post. A groove on the soffit of the south aisle wall plate shows that the barn walls originally had thick vertical boards. The roof above tie beam level was removed after the Second World War and replaced by a shallow pitched roof with softwood rafters and purlins. Birdsmouths for rafters are present on many of the arcade plates and aisle wall plates, showing the rafters were probably about six inches wide. The roof may have been of crownpost type, but as there are no mortises in the tie beams for down braces it could have been of sans-purlin type or a roof combining a crownpost and a central purlin with scissor braces. A wooden threshing floor is present. One south low cart door is an 18th century ledged plank door. The eastern end has a modern mezzanine floor, wooden partition wall and internal walls concealing the original wall frame, probably erected for animal shelter.