Barn Incorporating Dovecote And Cowhouse Or Stable At Fernley Farm

This large barn, which includes a dovecote and cowhouses or stables with lofts above, dates from the mid to late 18th century. It is constructed of rubble stone with flush quoins and has a stone slate roof. The west side features a prominent central two-storey cart entry, topped by a square dovecote tower with a pyramidal roof that originally had a lantern, which is now missing. The entry has a chamfered cambered head archway with shaped double doors. There are slit vents on each side, a small lean-to against the right-hand return, and two large rendered raking buttresses on the left side.

Inside the dovecote, there are square nesting holes all around. The barn consists of seven bays, with collar beams that are arch-braced on the west side and supported by an internal partition wall, which forms the third main wall. This wall slopes down additional beams to the wall plate on the west side. The east side has a flush chamfered cambered head archway with straight-headed doors, and the section between the two walls is divided into animal shelters with raking lofts above. On the left, there is a flight of twelve later stone steps leading up to a loft platform and pitch hole, with a doorway beneath and a small keyed oval opening in a rectangular frame above a two-light window. On the right, there is a doorway and window with a shuttered pitch hole above, flanked by similar small oval openings. A slate and stone slate lean-to is present on the south gable end.