Stable & Barn Range at Grange Farm

Stable and Barn Range at Grange Farm

This L-plan farm range comprises three distinct structures: a cruck-framed stable block (aligned east-west), a late 17th-century corn barn attached at right angles, and a 19th-century stable block (both aligned north-south).

The cruck-framed stable block has external walls of rubble stone, partly timber-framed. Its south front features a corrugated metal roof with two transparent roof panels. The ground floor elevation displays (left to right) a square window opening, a stable half-door with timber lintel, a doorway with unglazed rectangular overlight, and a boarded door. The north elevation at ground floor level contains (left to right) a tall blocked window opening with timber lintel, a second similar blocked opening, and a small single-light window. On the first floor (left side) is a two-light window with sunk chamfer mullion and iron stanchions. The east gable upper wall and gable-head are clad with corrugated metal sheeting, with a centre boarded door at ground floor level.

The corn barn attaches to the west gable of the cruck-framed stable. Its south gable and north end-wall are rubble stone. The base of the long walls consists of rubble stone to a height of approximately two to three metres, with the upper walls featuring one tier of timber-framed panels to the west and two tiers to the east. The slate roof has a higher ridge than the adjoining stable and is hipped at the north end only in corrugated metal sheeting. The west elevation contains an off-centre threshing floor (positioned left), flanked on each side by raking buttresses to the lower walls. The upper wall to the left is clad in corrugated metal, while that to the right is boarded. The south gable has two vent slits at ground level, a square doorway to the pitching loft above, and weatherboarding at the gable-head. The east side (facing the inner yard) features a stone retaining wall supporting an access ramp leading up to the barn doors of the threshing floor.

The 19th-century stable attaches to the north gable of the corn barn at the level of the lower yard. Its east front contains cambered arched brick openings at ground level. The far left has a boarded door to a cross passage. The stable section (right) has a centre boarded door flanked by unglazed windows on each side. These unglazed windows comprise a large square opening below and two small square openings with iron stanchions above. On the first floor (centre) is a datestone inscribed 1820, with a two-light unglazed window on each side.

Interior and Structural Detail

The cruck-framed stable block contains four great trusses from a former medieval hall-house. Much of the interior lime plaster survives, and the trusses are exceptionally well-preserved and of large scantling. The east gable truss features a collar with raking V-struts above and three studs running between collar and tie beam, the latter partly damaged by fire. The middle cruck truss (to the east) has a collar and tie beam with tall studs enclosing lath and plaster panels. The middle cruck truss (to the west) has a collar with louvres above and cruck spurs below, this being the centre truss of the former hall which would originally have been open to the roof. The lower part of this open truss is now filled with 20th-century blockwork and infill above. At the west end is another collar and tie beam truss. Three tiers of purlins are trenched into packing pieces on each side.

The barn is a five-bay structure with collar and tie beam trusses and two tiers of trenched purlins. The soffits of the tie beams are supported by tall raking struts rising from the wall posts on each side. A low stone wall sits on the lower side of the threshing floor. A former cowhouse at the lower end has blocked doorways on each side.

The loft to the stable comprises four bays with 19th-century collar trusses, ridge board, and two tiers of purlins.