Barn And Horse Engine House On West And South Of Yard And Water Wheel 15 Metres To South Of Newchurches Farmhouse

ST STEPHENS BY SX 38 NW LAUNCESTON 9/142 Barn and horse engine house on west - and south of yard and water wheel 15 metres to south east of Newchurches Farmhouse

GV II

Barn with horse engine house and water wheel. Probably mid C19, contemporary with estate farmhouse built for E. Coode in 1854 (qv Newchurches Farmhouse). Stone rubble. Rag slate roofs with hipped ends. Plan: Barn on west and south sides of yard comprising overall 'L' shaped plan with shippons on ground floor and threshing floor, hay loft and granary above. The barn is unusual as it has what appear to be coeval horse engine house and water wheel to drive the threshing machinery; the horse engine house to the rear of the west range and the wheel in a pit some 30 metres to the east of the barn which drove the thresher by a series of rods. As the mill pond was fed from surface water from the surrounding fields, it is possible that the engine house was used as an alternative source of power during drier weather. Exterior: 2 storey barn on west and south side of yard with shippon doors on ground floor and at least three loft doors above with slate hoods. Line of pigeon holes. Rectangular projection for horse engine house to rear of western range with long ventilation slits. The hybrid overshot water wheel which is in a deep pit to the east is 20 feet in diameter and has a slate launder. The remains of the rods which drove the thresher survive in part close to the wheel. Interior: C19 floor joists to barn. Part of remains of machinery in horse engine house obscurred by bales of hay at time of inspection (1987).

Listing NGR: SX3092485098