The Old Cider Mill And Threshing Barn

ASHLEWORTH

1375/0/10004 LONGRIDGE END 03-NOV-05 The Old Cider Mill and Threshing Barn

GV II A former treshing barn and cider mill dating from the C17 with later alterations, likely to have been built by (unknown) local craftsmen. A timber framed structure with brick nogging infill, timber weather boarding and corrugated iron cladding and roof, set on a stone and brick plinth. The barn has a rectangular plan of seven bays and is internally subdivided into three areas. The north elevation comprises regular timber frames and nogging with later brick and stone infill. The fourth bay has one of a former pair of full height threshing doors opening onto the treshing floor. The south elevation also comprises of regular timber frames with nogging infill and vertically hung timber and corrugated iron cladding. The fourth bay again accommodates a full height opening with remains of former threshing doors, opposing that of the north elevation. The west gable has a regular replacement timber frame and brick nogging with earlier framing to the gable which is clad in horizontal timber weatherboarding, all on a coarsed Lias stone plinth. The east gable has regular timber framing throughout, which is clad in horizontal timber weatherboarding set on a deep Lias stone plinth. The cart shed attached to the south-west end mainly dates from the late C20 and is not of special interest. Inside is a C17 `crazy paved Lias stone treshing floor and a C19 concentrically laid coarsed Lias stone horse engine floor for a former cider mill. The roof comprises six trusses (three of which are part formed of full height framed storage bays). All trusses comprise principal rafters, tie beams and collars with curved struts. Some pegged, some nailed. Two tiers of purlins (some threaded, some trenched) and (partly lost) ridge with some historic rafters surviving. Long slender tension braces on the interior dividing wall at the east side of the barn survive, suggesting this was formerly the gable end and that the barn was extended by two bays to the east at a later date. The barn forms part of Longridge End Farm, which during the C19 became a cider producing farm surrounded by circa 48 ha of orchards.