Farmbuildings Adjoining To North Of North Frith Farmhouse Including Long Barn

Farmbuildings adjoining to the north of North Frith Farmhouse, including Long Barn

Ranges of farmbuildings dated 1856, situated at Hadlow on Ashes Lane. The complex sustained bomb blast damage in 1944 and part was converted to domestic accommodation around 1980.

The buildings are constructed in brick, mostly in Flemish bond. The majority is ochre-yellow in colour, but red brick and burnt headers are used decoratively. The roofs are covered in peg-tile, except for the stable range which was replaced with concrete pantiles.

The structure forms a large E-plan arrangement facing south, comprising a long tall range across the back with three ranges projecting forward. The rear range contains a former threshing barn to the right (east), now converted to domestic use. The left end opens at ground floor level to a feed store. A cottage with a large projecting gable-end stack rises from the centre of this rear range. This projecting block was originally built as a forge, while the open-fronted section served for carts and horses waiting for the blacksmith. The cottage has been converted to domestic use along with the former barn and is now known as Long Barn. The central of the three front ranges is taller and wider and was a milking parlour, with a row of lean-to pig sties along the right (east) side. Low ranges flank each end containing animal houses facing inward; the left one was probably stables and the right one cow houses. A passageway runs through the wings alongside the rear range.

Original windows have segmental arches and contain iron-framed pivoted casements with glazing bars. Original sliding plank doors remain. All buildings have eaves cornices of cogged brick carried round the gable-ends. The threshing barn has been considerably altered in its conversion to Long Barn, with the large central double doorway reduced and large segmental-headed windows inserted. The open arcade to the rear of the rear range is carried on cast-iron columns under a large oak lintel, with two windows either side of a loading hatch doorway above. The front (south) gable of the milking parlour contains a large central doorway with a winder overlight above with segmental arched head, flanked by small doorways, with an extra one to the right into the front of the pig sties. The top section of the low-pitch gabled roof is lifted slightly for ventilation, with a stone plaque inscribed "EG 1856" in the apex. Both side walls feature a series of lunette windows; those to the left retain their original slatted windows whilst those on the right have sliding windows fitted to the inside of the wall. The roof includes sections of glass tiles for additional light. The low left range contains stable doors and windows, though the windows and doors on the outer (west) side are twentieth-century insertions. The right range originally contained an eight-bay arcade of elliptical-headed arches with brick imposts, now blocked. An ornate wrought-iron weather vane set into the ridge of the rear block roof bears the initials "NF" (North Frith) with the date 1856.

The interior features plain but sturdy carpentry. The roofs are of king post truss construction, with the milking parlour roof of aisled construction.

These attractive farmbuildings form part of a good group with the oast, granary, and North Frith Farmhouse, which was built as a model farm by the owners of North Frith House.