Cattle Shelter To South-West Of Hamlyn'S Farm

This is a cattle shelter located to the south-west of Hamlyn's Farm, dating from the late 19th century or early 20th century. The shelter features a rear wall made of coursed stone rubble and an open front supported by timber posts. It has a roof clad in corrugated iron, with gable ends also covered in corrugated iron, concealing a 'solid thatch' roof structure underneath. The shelter is a small, four-bay open-fronted shed facing north, with unhewn timber posts holding up the roof. The roof is supported by closely spaced unhewn pole joists and is made from coarse brushwood, brambles, and straw, which is thatched on top and now covered with corrugated iron sheets. This structure represents the remaining four bays of a longer shed that once extended to the east. It is a very rare example of a 'solid thatch' roof structure, a primitive construction method that eliminates the need for trusses. Similar examples can be found at Church Farm in West Camel and Hainbury Farm in Northover, Yeovilton.