Barn And Shelter Sheds, Highnam Farm

The barn and shelter sheds at Highnam Farm date from the mid-19th century and were built for T. Gambier-Parry. The structure features weatherboarded timber framing set on a low brick plinth, with English-bond brick used in the end bay and a slate roof. The barn is designed with six bays and has two porches on one side, along with a lean-to that extends four bays beyond the ends of the barn.

The yard side includes gabled porches with double doors, one of which is halved, and a concrete ramp leading up to a higher floor in the left porch. Between the two-bay lean-to, there is an open-fronted area supported by an iron column, which was originally three bays with timber posts. The barn itself has a half-hipped roof.

To the left, there is an open-fronted shed; the first bay against the barn was originally walled, with three open bays beyond featuring timber posts and angle struts to the wall plate. The fourth bay extends beyond the yard wall and is constructed of brick, with a hit and miss shutter for the window and a flat, rubbed-brick arch. The hipped end of the roof caps this section.

Inside the first bay by the porch, the area is walled off and features stone paving, a trough against the porch, and harness hooks on the left wall. The tie beam trusses have struts leading to one pair of purlins. The right end of the first bay has a weatherboarded wall with a stable door, and there were originally four open bays beyond, similar to those on the left, which are now infilled with concrete block.

The barn's interior includes a stone-paved right threshing floor, with lofts inserted in the bays during the 20th century. The framing consists of balloon construction in two layers, with straight braces rising to a central post in each bay. The bottom level in the porches is lined with boarding. There are mortices in the main posts on either side of the threshing floor for a rail positioned approximately 900mm above. Long, curved braces support the trusses, which lack jowls, and iron straps tie the beams to the wall plates. The trusses are queen-strut types with slight principals.