West Barn Approximately 23 Metres North of Land Farm House

Summary

Former mid- to late-C19 barn, converted to residential use in the late C20.

Reasons for Designation

West Barn, a mid- to late-C19 former agricultural building, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

* Legibility: despite conversion, the original function of the building: a barn with central taking-in doors, remains legible;

* Group value: forms a coherent group with the C16 Land Farm House to the south and the mid- to late C19 former stables, Land Cottage and Lancet Barn, to the east, which are both listed at Grade II.

History

The List entry for West Barn describes the building as C18. It is not depicted on the 1842 tithe map which suggests that the building is no earlier than the mid-C19. The barn is first shown on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map (1890) orientated north to south, with an east range projection at the north end and a diagonally projecting range to the south. The east range originally linked with the former agricultural building (now Lancet Barn and Land Cottage) to the east, creating a U-shaped plan. The western half of the range has since been demolished. These agricultural buildings which were converted to dwellings in the late C20 were formerly associated with the Grade II listed Land Farm House to the south. This early-C16 farmhouse was the birthplace of Thomas Wakley (1795-1862), surgeon and medical reformer, and founder of the medical journal ‘The Lancet’.

Drawings submitted with the planning application (1988) for its conversion indicate that West Barn appears to retain its double-height space to the centre of the main part with first-floor bedrooms to either end, while the east range is a kitchen and a garage. It is understood that the south wing serves as an outbuilding.

Details

Materials: it is constructed of rubble stone under a slate tile roof. The south elevation of the principal range is slate hung.

Plan: L-shaped barn, orientated north to south with an angled range running from the south end of the barn.

Exterior: the former barn is of one and a half storeys with a gabled roof. The principal elevation (east) comprises a former cart entrance at the centre with cambered arch. To the left is a gable with tall window, formerly a taking-in door. To the right is the surviving west half of the single-storey range with Roman tiles to the roof. The south elevation of the barn is slate hung and has two tall windows at first floor.

Interior: not inspected (2013).

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

88096

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Other
Title: Membury Tithe Map Source Date: 1842 Author: Publisher: Surveyor:

End of official list entry

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