BARN CONVERSION IN STAGES

To begin with the barn was covered in tin sheeting and some imagination was needed to see the full potential.

The Planners proved to be difficult but eventually agreed the use of water reed thatch in lieu of long straw as the existing roof pitch was too slack.

Water reed is reputed to last some 60 years while long straw maybe only 20 years.

The next stage was to remove the farmers concrete. The old wall studs were unfortunately rotten but the main aisle posts had survived.

Things began to look worse!

There were mountains of concrete. We were trying to sheet the building to keep the rain out. The wind and the tin sheeting nearly defeated our efforts!

Hand and machine both dug foundations under the old frame. The structure was supported in stages with clamped timber supports and diagonal bracing.

Expert repairs were carried out to the feet of the main frame with some replacement timbers being inserted where the plates were rotten. Reclaimed bricks from the old foundations were built up under these aisle posts.

A new ground floor was constructed, the fireplace and central structure began to take shape.

The green oak frames were preassembled ready for hoisting into position. The frames were all made with traditional tenon and peg joints.

The roofing works were underway and the basic landscape works commenced.

The thatching process began, fortunately the thatcher had a team of helpers who worked using original thatching tools and completed the work in three weeks.

The view from the avenue in the wood looked toward the barn, sadly at this stage across a sea of rubble and concrete, part of the old farmyard.

The proportions of any successful design are very important, aesthetically and structurally.

This is a diagram of the window proportions.

The water reed thatching when it was nearly completed.

A view from the rear field. Landscape clearance commenced.

The view from the terrace with an avenue cut through the wood. The old concrete from the barn was used in the avenue to raise the ground level above the hedge line and the far off roadway to give an uninterupted view towards the hills beyond. A garden feature was planned at the crest of this avenue.