Downingbury Farm Barn

TQ 64 SW PEMBURY MAIDSTONE ROAD

5/386 Downingbury Farm Barn

GV II

Former barn, now (February 1989) being converted into 2 houses. Probably C17 with C18 extension. Weatherboarded timber-frame on brick footings; peg-tile roof.

Plan: Former threshing barn faces east south east, say east. The C17 barn had large opposing central doorways onto the threshing floor but this is now left (south) of centre since the barn was just about doubled in length in the C18 with an extension on the right (north) end. If this extension had its own threshing floor the doorwways to it are now blocked.

Originally open to the roof it is now having a first floor inserted. Lean-to outshot on the left (south) end and C19 cartshed projects forward from the centre.

Exterior: Irregular 3-window front of casements without glazing bars, all from late 1988/early 1989. 2 front doorways. The left one is in the recessed blocking of the full height threshing floor doorway with a tier of windows at first floor level above. Another doorway at the right end in a recessed porch. Both contain plain C20 doors. Main roof has an attractively uneven ridge. It is half-hipped to right. It was originally half-hipped to left but is now hipped as it is carried down over the outshot that end. Similar C20 fenestration to rear.

Interior: The C17 and C18 framed structure is retained. In the C17 half the timbers are of large scantling and include large curving tension braces above the middle rail. Wall posts with jowled heads and the tie-beams are (or were) arch-braced. Roof structure above replaced in the late C19/early C20. The C18 section is more complete with a clasped side purlin roof construction.

Downingbury Farm Barn forms a good group with nearby Downingbury Farm Oast (q.v.) and the good early C18 Downingbury Farmhouse (q.v.).

Listing NGR: TQ6365742895