Barn Immediately West Of Old House

This is a barn, probably dating from the early 17th century, located immediately west of the Old House in Hildenborough on Philpots Lane. It features a framed construction clad in weatherboarding and has a peg-tile roof.

The barn has a three-bay layout facing north, with the roof extending down as a catslide over a rear left outshut, which may be integral, and a later lean-to at the west end. The north side has full height double doors in the center. The left end is lofted, with the loft likely being a later addition. The walls are made of horizontal boarding, enclosing a small chamber with a lean-to roof within the loft space, which is only accessible from the rear left outshut.

On the exterior, there are paired doors at the north entrance, and two doors on the left return: one leads into a woodstore beneath the loft, and the other into the outshut. The north door at the right end leads to the lean-to. The roof is gabled at the left end and half-hipped at the right end.

Inside, the barn features two tie-beam trusses with massive splayed posts, raking queen struts, clasped purlins, and large arch braces. There is a half-tier of curved wind bracing below the clasped purlin. The west wall is clad with substantial split logs, now located within the lean-to addition. The loft at the east end includes a unique weatherboarded chamber with its own lean-to clay roof beneath the barn roof. This chamber is enclosed on three sides, with the open side facing into the outshut, and its original function is uncertain; it may have served as a granary.

This barn is an interesting example of 17th-century agricultural architecture and has group value with the Old House nearby.