The Old Granary

The Old Granary and Barn Cottage, Henley on Thames

Two cottages originally built as merchants' offices and warehousing, now unified as a single house. The Old Granary dates to 1549, confirmed by dendrochronology, with Barn Cottage built at around the same time, possibly as part of the same structure. Both underwent major renovation in 1925 and have seen later alterations.

The buildings are constructed with timber frames. The Old Granary's ground floor has walls rebuilt in brick and flint, while the first floor retains brick and plaster infill panels. Barn Cottage similarly combines brick and flint on the ground floor with jettied framing above. Both buildings are roofed in plain clay tiles.

The Old Granary presents three and a half bays across two storeys, originally divided vertically into three units. It faces east towards the riverfront, with a central doorway and a former cart entrance (now infilled) to the right. The original south-east corner is marked by stone quoins. Brick corbelling sits beneath the jetty, and the jettied first floor displays exposed box framing with short braces to both front and rear.

Barn Cottage, built at ninety degrees to the Old Granary at the corner of Thameside and Friday Street, comprises three bays. It has two doorways to Friday Street, with a recessed section on the left in modern brick. The first floor is jettied to both streets with similar framing and mixed brick and plaster infill.

Internally, the Old Granary ceiling is formed of three massive transverse beams spanned by axial beams supporting joists. Except in the northern bay, these members have chamfers and run-out stops. Transverse beams display empty stud and brace slots indicating original partitions. The half-bay has been much altered for insertion of a stack and fireplace, with two trimmer beams supporting short joists and evidence of a possible former access hatch. The exposed roof structure shows curved wind-braces between purlins and principals, with trusses closed above tie-beams by short vertical and raking struts; empty mortises beneath the tie-beams indicate former partitions.

Barn Cottage displays similar internal construction and detailing, except in the corner bay, which was originally part of a large ground-floor chamber and has a diagonal dragon beam supporting the double jetty. The framing of the western wall was removed at first-floor level, exposing the end wall of Friday Cottage immediately behind.

The buildings' original use related to the river trade, with offices and accommodation below and storage units above. By the late 18th century, Barn Cottage was documented as a granary. By the early 20th century, they had become dilapidated and were used largely for storage. They were saved from demolition in 1925 by Lady Burke, who had them converted into two cottages. In recent years, these have been united as a single dwelling.