Description

BUNWELL

974/0/10028 LOW COMMON
08-MAY-07 Ochre Barns

GV II
House, formerly farm buildings. Early C18, early C19 and converted early C21. Colourwashed timber-framed and brick walls with roofs of old pantiles, both red and black. Formerly a group of L-plan farmbuildings, the largest and longest element of which consists of two 4-bay timber-framed barns joined lengthwise which date from the early C18. At 90 degrees to one end of the long range another range projects forward which is early C19 in date and built of brick. Further forward still are an entrance hall and a garage/workshop, the latter retaining an early C19 tie beam truss roof. A lean-to single-storey element in the angle of the L which was lateC19/C20 was rebuilt as part of the conversion. C20 fenestration and doors.

INTERIOR: The two 4-bay timber-framed barns are joined lengthwise. The end barn which is the present full height sitting room has jowled corner posts, tall-panel framing and a principal-rafter roof with collars. There are bridging beams surviving where there was previously a floor removed long before the conversion. The building continues with a large open kitchen and then in the next barn is the dining room, again with tall-panel framing and wind braces. Both these rooms are ceiled and have original bridging beams and rafters, the latter covered up. A window facing the rear both here in the dining room and in the bedroom upstairs has been inserted. This appears to been one of the very few recent cuts through the timber frame, though there had been other earlier ones such as on the rear wall where the present kitchen is. The bedrooms above have much framing visible and butt purlin roofs. At 90 degrees to this end of the long range is another range. This is built of brick and has been divided into further accommodation but retains its butt purlin roof intact. The garage/workshop retains an early C19 tie beam truss roof. The lean-to single-storey element in the angle of the L retains wholly visible the timber-framed wall of the barn range within this large room.

SUMMARY OF IMPORTANCE.
This is a group of L-plan farm buildings which has been recently converted to a single large house. The largest and longest element consists of two 4-bay timber-framed barns joined lengthwise which date from the early C18.
Much of the frame, including jowled posts, tall-panel framing and a principal-rafter roof with collars, survives. In one barn are bridging beams surviving where there was previously a floor removed long before the conversion. The building continues with a large open kitchen and then in the next barn is the dining room, again with tall panel framing and wind braces. Both these rooms are ceiled and have original bridging beams and rafters, the latter covered up. The bedrooms above have much framing visible and butt-purlin roofs. At 90 degrees to this end of the long range is another range which retains its early C19 butt-purlin roof intact. The garage/workshop retains an early C19 tie beam truss roof.
The amount of survival of the original buildings is such and the group value with the adjacent listed farmhouse is so close both visually and as an historic farmstead group, that these buildings, although now a house, are of special architectural interest.

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26671313

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)