Barn at Court Farm

The barn at Court Farm, near Hanham Abbots, is believed to have a mediaeval fabric, although its features, particularly the roof structure, appear to be of the 18th century or slightly later. It is constructed of limestone rubble with dressings of pennant stone, and has end gables with copings and saddlestones. The roof is now covered with modern asbestos sheets. A prominent feature is a central, two-storey porch with a stone parapet ramped at the corners, topped with a slate roof. A carved stone female figure, known as "Sally," stands on a circular rock in the centre of the parapet; local lore associates this figure with the Roman goddess Ceves and the barn is sometimes referred to as “Sally on the Barn.” The porch has a wide arch, a keystone, a keyed semi-circular opening above, and flanking quatrefoil lights. Single loop vents are visible in the walls. The rear elevation has a similar central arch, but without the porch, and contains 18th-century double wooden doors with original ironwork. A pigeon-loft is located on the south gable, alongside a pantiled loft. The barn’s design is reminiscent of the Tithe barn at Hanham Court, and there is possibly a 19th-century addition.