Barn Attached To Rear Of Woolstaplers House

HIGH STREET (S.E. side) Barn attached to rear of II Woolstaplers House

Former Barn in divided ownership, now partly converted as extension to Woolstaplers' House (q.v.). Probably C18, altered; partly adapted by C R Ashbee in the early 1900s; roof-structure 1984. Coursed and squared rubble, North, West and possibly once the South sides formerly open between ashlar piers with small offsets; stone slate roof with late C20 ashlar chimney. Floor (?) inserted but removed from South end; garret to North end below a half-hip. Irregular openings; the South end, unconverted at time of inspection (June 1985), retains small-pane glazing filling the central bay to West and the 1st floor of the right-hand bay and leaded lights in the partly bricked-in opening to East; the North gable end has late C20 windows to 1st floor and garret, rough ashlar underbuilding to girder over ground floor and late C20 plastered block-wood panels within a timber-frame (restored 1984) replacing rubble panels. The South gable end incorporates part of an ashlar pier but was probably never open, it carries a gutter at the wall-head as the roof-structure rises just within the structure of the building. Interior: ground floor on North (modernised) end retains a chamfered beam; from discarded timbers it was possible to see that the roof-structure had been two rows of butt-purlins with sliptenons (which are not common before the C18). The 2 parts now divided by a late C20 block work party wall. This barn is said to be associated with the wool-trade; the present structure is not mediaeval and the open sides suggest forage or implement storage.

Listing NGR: SP1525439266