History in Structure

Strawberry Pickers' Barracks at Bellis' Farm

A Grade II Listed Building in Holt, Wrexham

We don't have any photos of this building yet. Why don't you be the first to send us one?

Upload Photo »

Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

Coordinates

Latitude: 53.077 / 53°4'37"N

Longitude: -2.8867 / 2°53'11"W

OS Eastings: 340697

OS Northings: 353672

OS Grid: SJ406536

Mapcode National: GBR 7B.B19R

Mapcode Global: WH88T.MXLH

Plus Code: 9C5V34G7+Q8

Entry Name: Strawberry Pickers' Barracks at Bellis' Farm

Listing Date: 12 April 1996

Last Amended: 17 July 1996

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 16841

Building Class: Agriculture and Subsistence

ID on this website: 300016841

Location: Situated to the N of Bellis Farm, off the Wrexham Road.

County: Wrexham

Community: Holt

Community: Holt

Built-Up Area: Holt

Traditional County: Denbighshire

Tagged with: Architectural structure

Find accommodation in
Farndon

History

U-shaped range of Strawberry Pickers' Barracks, probably dating to the turn of the twentieth century. The Barracks were occupied by seasonal crop pickers who were called Dodgers. Strawberries were introduced into the Holt area in 1860 by Charles Bellis who quickly expanded the crop so that at its height over 200 acres were turned over to strawberry production. The crop was exported to Liverpool, Birmingham and London by rail and over 3,000 baskets of fruit were despatched every day.

Exterior

U-shaped range of barracks buildings. Wooden construction with sheet iron roof, with continuous raised ventilation vent running along the ridge. Two long ranges contain thirty-five large single cells for accommodation. Each section is entered by an individual door with moulded wooden architrave and surmounted by timber swan-neck pediments. Oval blue and white enamel number plates to the left of each doorway. Wooden string course runs full length of these ranges. Between each doorway is an eight-paned fixed window, again surmounted by a swan-neck pediment. The southerly gable ends of both long ranges are topped by decorative cast iron finials. The short range to the north contains central raised open section for machinery storage. This section is pedimented and originally contained a bellcote. To either side more single cell accommodation.

Interior

Each large cell contains an open wall-mounted cupboard comprising ten individual pigeon holes with coat hooks beneath. Pasted on the courtyard end of each cupboard is a list of rules and regulations. The end blocks of the longer ranges comprises toilets.

Reasons for Listing

Listed as an extremely well preserved example of comparatively rare building type which illustrates an important part of Holt's economic and social history.

External Links

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

Other nearby listed buildings

BritishListedBuildings.co.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact BritishListedBuildings.co.uk for any queries related to any individual listed building, planning permission related to listed buildings or the listing process itself.

British Listed Buildings is a Good Stuff website.