Farmyard Building at the Steps

The Farmyard Building at the Steps is an L-shaped structure consisting of 18th century and early 19th century farm buildings that were built in two phases. It includes a barn with stables positioned on a slope to the northwest of the farmhouse, along with a smaller barn at right angles at the west end. Both buildings are constructed of whitewashed rubble and feature slate roofs.

The larger of the two buildings has stables at the right end, which include split-boarded doors and two flanking 2-light windows, one of which is barred and the other is a hopper window. There is a loft door to the right, and central barn doors that lead up steps, although it appears a ramp may have been removed. The left side of this building was originally lap-boarded but has since been rebuilt in brick, featuring diamond pattern ventilation holes, and there is an additional door at the extreme left. The right gable end has been rebuilt, as indicated by a vertical joint. The rear of the building has corresponding barn doors and a boarded loft door above a glazed window. Inside, the structure has a 4-bay layout with simple pegged tie and collar trusses, and a threshing floor that occupies one full bay, which was previously flanked by framed partitions. There is also a triangular ventilator on the left gable end.

A previous cross-range is suggested by the masonry at the corner and the slate roof, but a later addition, likely from the early 19th century, has created the existing barn that is attached at right angles to the earlier building at the northeast corner. The front of this barn features an off-centre loft door, beneath which is evidence of masonry infill indicating a large blocked entrance. There are boarded stable-type doors near either end, with a cambered brick head to the left and a timber lintel to the right.

This building is included for its group value with The Steps farmhouse and the associated cartshed.