North Frith Farm Oast

This is a former oasthouse, dating to circa 1856, built as part of a model farm. It sustained bomb damage in 1944 and was converted circa 1984, now serving as a field centre for wildlife and farming studies. The building is constructed of English bond brick, incorporating a significant number of burnt headers, creating a banded appearance. It has a peg-tile roof.

The plan features a south-facing stowage with four attached hop kilns – three to the back and one to the left (west) end. The end kiln has a narrow, projecting chimneyshaft, believed to be original. The stowage is three storeys high, with the ground floor open.

The exterior of the stowage presents a symmetrical five-window front. All windows have segmented brick arches and contain iron-framed, pivoting casements with glazing bars. First-floor loading hatch doorways, positioned either side of centre, retain original sliding plank doors on iron runners. A five-bay open arcade of cast iron columns supports the ends of the crossbeams, with a substantial horizontal plat or lintel across the front. A band of cogged brick runs above the arcade, with low segmental brick relieving arches descending towards it. A plain projecting band runs across the front at window sill level, broken by the loading hatch doorways. An eaves cornice of cogged brick is interrupted by the upper window arches. S-shaped iron ties are visible at second-floor level. The main roof is hipped at each end. A section of the right-hand side continues in a similar style, with matching windows, although an arcade of narrow segmental-headed arches is now blocked by windows.

The hop kilns are circular in plan and unusually architecturally detailed. They feature sunken rectangular panels with cogged brick cornices, and small, segmental-arched windows, believed to be original. Windows and doorways inserted circa 1984 have concrete lintels. Originally, the conical roofs were taller and coated in brick, but suffered bomb damage in 1944. They were subsequently reduced in height and covered with peg tiles.

The interior demonstrates plain but sturdy carpentry. The roof structure consists of five-bay tie-beam trusses with raked iron gussets securing joints and vertical iron rods connecting each apex to the tie beam. Sturdy dragon ties reinforce the corners at wall plate level.

The oasthouse is an attractive example, forming part of a group of contemporary farm buildings and North Frith Farmhouse, all created as a model farm by the owner of North Frith House.