Tithe Barn 150 Metres South-East Of Bishop'S Court

SOWTON BISHOP'S COURT LANE SX 99 SE 1/40 Tithe Barn 150 metres south- - east of Bishop's Court (formerly 11.11.52 listed with Bishop's Court)

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Former tithe barn. Probably early C14. Rubble sandstone; gabled end pantiled roof. Rectangular plan, 90' x 24', but possibly originally 115' long, with a (formerly central) cross entry. Exterior: Buttresses with 2 set-offs, the east end with 1 central, and 2 diagonal buttresses. Ventilation slits between buttresses. Some later doorways, one with elliptical arch. Interior : some later partitions and partial flooring. Roof 7 bays; of base cruck construction; (or middle cruck construction if Mercer's terminology used); conventional cruck structure below the collar with square-set purlins, arched bracing and wind braces, the crucks set on templates about 5' above ground level. Above the collar the roof is a cannon rafter type with queen posts, upper purlins and bearers at either end. The original construction survives at the west end : 2 vertical timbers rest on the lintels of the ventilator slits which support the ends of the middle purlins with collar above : straight braces from these posts to collars and to purlin. Standard upper structure stands on the collar. The above description is a summary of Dr Alcock's detailed description and analysis in N W Alcock, 'The Medieval Buildings of Bishop's Clyst', Trans Devon Assoc. 98 (1966), espec. pp. 133-8.

Listing NGR: SX9813091801