Range Of Bank Barns Approximately 1.5 Metres West Of Lower Jurston Farmhouse

SX 68 SE CHAGFORD

5/54 Range of bank barns approximately 22.2.67 1.5 metres west of Lower Jurston Farmhouse GV II

Range of bank barns. Probably late C18-early C19. Granite stone rubble and slate roofs. Plan: range of 3 adjoining bank barns terraced into the hillside and facing into the farmyard to the east-north-east, say east. Below the threshing barns are cow byres and a series of possibly unique chambers thought to be turnip stores. There are 2 long ranges connected by a short range set back a little and slightly lower than the long ranges. Exterior: the left (southern) barn has 2 large segmental-headed arches to the cow byres and central loading hatch doorway above to the barn. The symmetry is upset by a window at the right end to the byres and a vent above to the barn. The right (northern) barn has 4 similar segmental-headed arches to the byres, 2 each side of a flight of stone steps up to a central loading hatch doorway to the barn. Both these blocks are gable-ended. The connecting block has a doorway towards the right (now reduced in size) and a first floor window. To rear the end barns have central full height double doors, both flanked by short midstrey walls. All the joinery is plain; plank doors, most split into flaps, and unglazed windows. Interiors have plain carpentry detail; roughly-finished and relatively close-set crossbeams and A-frame roof trusses with spiked and pegged lap-jointed collars. It is the left southern barn which has the storage chambers. Behind the cow byres there is a doorway each end. Each leads into a barrel-vaulted chamber along the back of the byre and there is a second pair of chambers behind these. They have hatches in their roofs for loading from the yard above. They are damp and therefore unsuitable for most storage uses. Since they are connected to the byres they must have stored winter cattle feed and turnips seem most likely. Whatever they were they are a unique feature.

Listing NGR: SX6965784483