Great House Barn

Great House Barn

This is a two storey five bay bank barn built from local Lakeland stone with some original render, aligned north-south along the tarmac lane through Troutbeck. The roof is pitched with a later hipped south end, covered in stone slates laid to diminishing courses, with a chimney towards the north end.

The west (front) elevation features elongated quoins to either side and a long drip course interrupted only by a ramped central entrance with a pentice roof providing access to the first floor threshing floor. The upper floor is ventilated by two rows of three regularly spaced slit windows to the right of the entrance and two similar rows of four slit windows to the left; several of those in the lower row on the left are blocked. The lower floor to the right of the entrance has a single row of slit windows, with the central one removed by insertion of a larger window opening with a stone sill, and the window to its right slightly enlarged. A tall entrance with a wooden lintel is also present. To the left of the entrance, the upper parts of four openings with timber lintels formerly lit or gave access to the lower floor; all are now partially blocked by stone and an increase in exterior ground level. At the north end, a clear building line marks a partially rebuilt section with a wide entrance having a stone lintel and wide-plank door, a pair of inserted openings with stone sills, and a full height entrance to the left.

The east (rear) elevation has a similar long drip course running its length, with two rows of regularly spaced slit windows above, some blocked. The drip course is interrupted by a first floor opening with a drip course, probably a winnowing door, and a smaller opening to the upper right with a timber lintel. At ground floor a row of slit windows is visible with two inserted ground floor entrances. The north end has a single entrance with a plank and batten door flanked by small window openings, all with timber lintels; the far right opening was formerly an entrance, now partially blocked. The rebuilt northern section has a single window opening.

The south gable has two continuous drip courses below which sits a round-headed entrance, now blocked in its lower parts to form a window. The present hipped roof is a later remodelling. The rebuilt north gable is blind.

The barn largely retains its original layout with a central first floor former threshing floor and storage areas to either side. The northern storage area has a later inserted timber floor. The inner side of the barn's north gable features a stone chimney supported by timber corbels with a flue and the scar of a smoke hood below. The base of this wall is fire reddened and iron stained, with two roughly square mortices. The original through purlin roof structure comprising four pegged trusses with angled struts remains in situ, though the rafters are renewed. One of the principal rafters retains remains of lath and plaster infill. The ground floor comprises a number of smaller spaces formerly providing animal accommodation. One small window opening in the west wall, now blocked with stone, has the remains of a wooden mullioned window. Within the partially rebuilt northern section, the north face of the gable wall supporting the chimney has a crude stone chimney piece and wall plaster.