L Plan Range Of Cob Farmbuildings To West Of Monkerton Farmhouse

L-plan range of cob farmbuildings to west of Monkerton Farmhouse

This L-plan range of farm buildings remains in agricultural use. The buildings are difficult to date precisely, but the southern range is probably late 18th or 19th century, although the walling may be earlier and could be contemporary with the late 17th-century phase of Monkerton Farmhouse. The walls are constructed of red cob, partly rough-cast, with evidence of at least two phases of cob in the southern range. The roofs are of corrugated iron laid over combed wheat reed thatch.

Plan and Evolution

The southern range comprises six bays and appears to have been truncated at its western end, though this occurred before 1888 according to the first edition Ordnance Survey map. It has no evidence of early doorways; instead there is a man door in the south side at the eastern end set in a section of brickwork, and evidence of a former doorway, possibly a threshing door, on the north side at the western end. Currently it has a western end opening and adjoins the western range, which abuts the north side at its western end.

The western range is also six bays and features a loft across all but the two southern bays. It has a large doorway in one of the unfloored bays facing a smaller door on the eastern side, and one large doorway to the centre of the same elevation. An internal weatherboarded gable marks the junction of the two buildings.

The southern range was used for general storage within living memory, and the western range is known to have contained a threshing machine within living memory. This use may have predated the loft floor, which provides limited headroom, though a threshing machine may have fitted into the two bays that remain open to the roof.

Southern Range: Exterior

The south side has a section of brick at the western end with a timber doorframe and door. There are two windows. The north side is blind.

Southern Range: Interior

Internally, a straight joint shows a section of blocking on the north side towards the eastern end with deep stone rubble footings, somewhat obscured by a later raise of cob, probably contemporary with the blocking and raised to increase wall height. A section of brick is also present on the north wall.

The roof structure comprises five tie-beam trusses with A-frames. The principals are halved at the apex and appear to be sawn. There are two tiers of purlins, with a slender ridge held in the X-shaped apex of each truss. The eastern end wall does not appear to be tied to the side walls.

Western Range: Exterior

This range is taller than the southern range, and the cob is unrough-cast on the north end wall. Facing east into the yard are two doorways; one has an overlight with vertical glazing bars matching those in circa 1911 buildings of the adjacent planned farmyard. Paired doors south of centre are in the west side, which also contains two windows.

The first edition Ordnance Survey map shows a structure with a rounded end adjoining the building on its western side, possibly a horse and engine house. This had been altered by the date of the second edition map and no longer exists.

Western Range: Interior

The trusses flanking the large doorway are jointed crucks of 16th or 17th-century character, but the feet have been cut off and the trusses rise from the wall-tops with no evidence of chases in the walls to take the original truss posts. This suggests the walling is later and the trusses were reused.

The other trusses are A-frames with principals on timber pads and halved collars, some pegged and some nailed. On the west side a small section of wall plate is associated with one of the jointed cruck trusses and extends northward. The loft is constructed of sawn timber with ladder access.

The buildings are of group value with Monkerton Farmhouse.