History

The farmstead of Pen-castell is of medieval origin, and the house contains evidence of construction from the C16. Its last major phase of building was in the early C19, and it is likely that the barn also dates from this period. However, much of the constructional timber within the barn has been re-used, and it is possible that it incorporates material either from the earlier house (which was timber-framed), or from an earlier barn on the site. The attached cart/shelter shed is a later addition - mid to late C19.

Exterior

Substantial barn, comprising threshing and storage bays, and a small cow-house at one end. Local quarried rubble in small blocks, roughly coursed. Corrugated sheet roof. 4 bays, with threshing floor occupying the second bay from the left. Full height broad entries at each side. To its left, two tiers of slit vents, then a boarded doorway to the lofted cow-bay. To the right of the threshing bay, two storage bays, each with a single slit vent. 2 vents and pitching door in upper gable end. Window in lower gable end, blocked by later shed. Attached to the lower gable is a later cart/shelter shed. Stone gable wall and pier at lower angle, then corrugated iron on light timber frame, with open bay immediately adjoining the barn. Hipped corrugated iron roof.

Interior

Slate flagged threshing floor, divided from the cow bay by a timber partition with sill beam and central post supporting strut truss. Below the loft, the partition timbers are doubled to provide a narrow bay with the floor beams cantilevered out over it. Presumably this was occupied by a feeding trough, separated from the threshing floor by boarding. Similar strut truss at right of threshing bay, with a series of mortices in the tie beam, suggesting either a former partition (there is also a sill beam), or re-use. Wind-braces in roof over threshing bay. A further truss divides the storage area into two bays. There is extensive evidence of re-used timber, in the wall-plates and purlins, in the loft floor beams, and in the lintels of the main doors and the pitching door.

Reasons for Listing

Listed as a traditional combined storage and threshing barn with integral cow-bay, retaining good vernacular character. The building is part of a group with the former farmhouse of Pen-castell, and appears to contain a considerable quantity of re-used timberwork - important evidence of earlier phases of building on this long-occupied site.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29505723

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

• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas