Tithe Barn

SY 5785 ABBOTSBURY CHURCH STREET, EAST SIDE

10/20 Tithe Barn 26.1.56 GV I

Tithe Barn, formerly of Abbotsbury abbey. c1400. Ashlar walls, weathered to dressed stone. Thatch roof, originally stone-slab, covering the 12 bays of the south-west end. Remaining 11 bays unroofed since C17. North wall from the sixth to eleventh bay is destroyed. High plinth moulding carried round buttresses. Buttresses form bay divisions, one high set-off and embattled pedestals above the parapet. These survive at south west gable-end as right-angle and central table buttresses, latter with a niched finial. Buttresses cut back with set-offs through rest of building, when converted to a thatch roof. Alternate bays of south wall with narrow loops, splayed internally. 6 loops graduated in size on south west gable. Porches, originally two, one survives at bay 16 (N), with opposing projecting entrances, bays 8 and 16. Moulded parapet across south west gable survives and on south wall where plain stone spouts survive at bays 17, 20 and 21. Two-storey porch (bay 16), with diagonal buttresses crenellated parpet, and stone-coped gable. Tall 4-centred archway of 2 straight-chamfered orders. Stone newel-staircase in angle with barn has 2 exits at parapet level, formerly to walkways. Interior of porch formerly vaulted, corbels and springers of a quadripartite rib vault remain. Projecting and opposing entrances on the south wall had formerly 4-centred and chamfered openings, eastern blocked, western partly destroyed and altered. Both have low gabled stone roofs and large segmental rere-arches. North wall of thatched barn, with ashlar blocking, possibly C17. Interior, roof-construction of principals with halved collars, projecting ashlaring carried on very short hammer-beams. No purlins. C17. Arch-braced collar trusses survive in porch, eight very closely set with ashlaring and clasped purlins, c.C14. Scheduled Ancient Monument. (RCHM, Dorset I, p.6 (3).)

Listing NGR: SY5772385090