Milking Parlour And Tallet 20 Metres West Of Oxenpark Farmhouse

A milking parlour with a tallet, built around 1910, stands 20 metres west of Oxenpark Farmhouse. The building is constructed of random rubble greensand with brick dressings, topped with a gable end slate roof. It demonstrates an aisled design; the central section, used for milking stalls with a drainage channel, is raised above the side aisles. The 'clerestory' of ventilation louvres provides light. The aisles provide access to mangers and the tallet, and also incorporate drainage channels. Planked doors are located at each end of the aisles, along with larger sliding doors for the milking parlour. An oculus is visible in each gable wall, and decorative bargeboarding adorns the roof. The interior remains intact, with posts supporting the trusses. The principals feature short, curved feet and are all pegged. This unusual building combines planned farmbuilding elements, reflecting "model-farming" theories, with traditional construction techniques. It was built just before the First World War by the owner's grandfather, using local labourers under the farmer’s direction, resulting in a handsome and functional farm building.