Linhay Approximately 12 Metres South West Of Gatehouse To Middle Coombe Farmhouse

This linhay, dating from the early to mid 17th century, is located approximately 12 metres south-west of the gatehouse to Middle Coombe Farmhouse in Uplowman. Constructed from stone rubble with some cob, it has a corrugated iron roof that was originally thatch.

The linhay features a plan that was originally open-fronted, facing north-east towards Middle Coombe Farmhouse. Although much of the front has been blocked with stone rubble and weatherboarding, it is still used as a cow byre with a tallet or hayloft above. The original structure is well-preserved.

The exterior consists of a 7-bay linhay. The crossbeams supporting the tallet or hayloft are roughly soffit-chamfered and rest on tapering stone rubble posts at the front. Vertical oak posts are integrated into the front ends of the beams through the narrow tallet, while the outer principals of the roof trusses are lap-jointed and pegged onto the posts. This linhay is classified as Alcock's type S2. The roof is supported by A-frame trusses with pegged dovetail-shaped lap-jointed collars and has a gable end.

Originally, the linhay extended another 6 bays further to the right (north-westwards), and many of the stone rubble posts and some of the tallet-hayloft crossbeams still remain. This linhay is part of an exceptional group with Middle Coombe Farmhouse and its ancillary buildings, and it is notable for being a well-preserved example of a 17th-century linhay.