The Old Tithe Barn And Attached Boundary Wall

This is a former tithe barn, likely dating from the early 15th century, that has been altered and restored in the early 20th century. It is now used as a hall and is located on the east side of the A435 in Bishop’s Cleeve. The barn is constructed of coursed squared and dressed limestone, along with some random large blocks of finely squared and dressed stone, with a stone slate roof. The main body of the barn was originally longer, facing south, and features a projecting porch on the west side, with small 20th-century single-storey extensions at the north-west corner. An attached boundary wall runs south from the south-east corner for approximately 15 metres.

The west front includes a projecting porch to the right, with a former double-width entrance now blocked and replaced by a large 20th-century twelve-light window with stone mullions and transoms. There is a weatherboarded gable and a stone-mullioned cross window on the return. A large, early plank door with studs is situated to the left of the porch, accompanied by a single-light casement with a wooden surround. Further along are a 20th-century four-light stone-mullioned casement, a single-light casement, and a small blocked doorway. The left gable end features three graded 19th-century windows with segmental-pointed heads and a relieving arch, with similar windows at the south gable end positioned over a segmental-pointed entrance containing 20th-century glazed double doors. The east-facing elevation has three 20th-century three-light stone-mullioned casements and two 20th-century four-light eaves dormers, one of which intersects with a double fire door. A double-width entrance with timber lintel is located towards the left, featuring four 20th-century top-opening steel casements. The flat gable-end coping has roll-cross saddles, and a weathervane sits at the north gable end.

The interior now includes a first floor and a subdivided ground floor. It contains four bays with four raised cruck trusses, each terminating at a collar beam with arched bracing. Struts extend from the arched brace to the collar and to the cruck blade. The upper collar beam and apex are halved. Two trusses have cruck spurs. Triple purlins incorporate curved wind bracing, with the lower bracing crossing the lower purlins. A limestone wall at the south-east corner, approximately 2.5 meters high and topped with red tiles, screens the view of a factory located to the rear.