Purkis Farm Barn
PURKIS FARM BARN
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1391260
- Date first listed:
- 18-Mar-2005
- List Entry Name:
- Purkis Farm Barn
- Statutory Address:
- PURKIS FARM BARN
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Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1391260
- Date first listed:
- 18-Mar-2005
- List Entry Name:
- Purkis Farm Barn
- Statutory Address 1:
- PURKIS FARM BARN
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- PURKIS FARM BARN
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Essex
- District:
- Braintree (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Borley
- National Grid Reference:
- TL8378643068
Details
1662/0/10004
BORLEY
BORLEY GREEN
Purkis Farm Barn
II
Barn, c 1600, reclad C18 or C19. Timber framed, originally infilled with wattle and daub, now clad throughout in corrugated iron sheeting. Brick plinth in Flemish bond, some rendered, western plinth with flint infill. Cladding replaced C18 or C19 by weatherboarding to middle rail height, lath and plaster above, the latter only surviving on western section of southern wall. Five bays, central entrance to southern elevation, integral outshut in northern wall. South and east walls have middle rail, north and west walls have full height studs. External tension braces at the angles. Main posts have swept jowls. Slightly cambered tie beams, with wide shallow braces, now bolted to the tie beams. Studs have notches and opposing augur holes for wattle. Face halved scarf joints to top plates. Clasped purlin roof with repaired hipped ends. Wind braces to central bay and bay to east. Many rafters and struts are of rough hewn or coppiced timber, some probably elm. Entrance occupies only part of central bay. Pair of divided doors on strap hinges. Mortice holes in top plate for substantial door posts.
The barn had no porch, a smaller than usual entrance, and an unusual integral outshut on northern wall, suggesting it may not have been a conventional threshing barn. Unusually the studs increase in height towards the centre of the building, resulting in an uneven top plate, causing warping and subsequent repairs to the roof.
The barn is a finely built and well preserved example from this period, with a remarkably intact frame. It preserves unusual features, attempts to resolve inherent problems in its construction, and the sequence of infilling and cladding. It may be contemporary with Purkis Farmhouse immediately to the south. Adjacent to it is largely C20 three bay cartlodge, incorporating C19 work. To the south west is a small three bay barn, C18 or C19 built of reused timbers, and an attached three-bay cartlodge, largely C20.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 492053
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 05-Jul-2026 at 08:47:00.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.