Former threshing barn approximately 52m east-south-east of the farmhouse, Pangfield Farm, Stanford Dingley, Stanford Dingley, West Berkshire

Summary

Barn of the C16/C17

Description

A former three-bay threshing barn, currently in use as a stable, probably of circa 1600 but with later modifications including the addition of an aisle to the south and an outshot to the west.

MATERIAL: timber-framed and brick, with weatherboarding and metal sheeting.

EXTERIOR: a pegged timber-frame of substantial scantling on a red brick plinth laid in Flemish bond with a central midstrey sheltered by a projecting metal-covered, hipped canopy to the south; the brickwork to the west of the midstrey is earlier in date, with narrower bricks of a darker red in situ. Modern vertical timber boards with ventilation gaps form the north and south walling, and the half-hipped roof is covered with corrugated metal sheeting. The north elevation could not be inspected; the east and west elevations are masked externally by later extensions.

The west outshot has a pent roof, and weatherboard cladding, obscured by the metal sheeting; adjoining to the west is a late C19 pitched roof extension with a blocked opening to the south.

INTERIOR: the earliest wall frame is incomplete to the north, west and east. The wall plate, principal and storey posts, both curved and straight braces and midrails remain but most intermediate studs have been removed. The north opening for the threshing bay is marked by two surviving door posts, but the doors are removed. Beneath the midrails to the east and west, the posts (apart from the principals) have been removed to create a more open plan to the building. At the west gable end, the posts and midrails, with studs above, survive, although some of the studs may be replacements. Nailed butt-edged weatherboard cladding is attached to the exterior, protected by the west outshot. At the east, many of the earliest cross frame members are replaced but the tie beam and collar to the half-hipped roof remains. The half-hipped roof is supported by a queen-post truss at the west end.

The earliest south wall was removed when the aisle was added; some of the timbers may have been used in the new wall frame judging from the evidence of reuse, particularly empty mortices. The aisle plate also has empty mortices and stave holes, indicating perhaps that it may have been formed by the midrail to the earliest barn. The canopy structure to the midstrey has reused and modern timbers, with a planked soffit formed from weatherboards.

The roof structure survives generally intact; the north pitch has been raised slightly by additional timbers, including a ridge, to support the metal roof covering. The earliest roof comprises a common rafter roof with clasped purlins; most rafters are in situ with some additions for strengthening and others having evidence of reuse. There are raking shores to the trusses on either side of the central bay, the former threshing floor, and generally curved windbraces to the purlins. Battens contemporary with the structure may have supported a thatched-roof.

The west outshot has rough-hewn framing comprising midrails, posts and sole plate on a brick plinth, some of the timber is softwood and probably replaced; the wall plate and pent roof are similarly crudely constructed. A loft is inserted at the north end.

History

Pangfield Farm is an isolated steading located on high ground overlooking the Pang river valley to the south, approximately 1 km west-north-west from the village of Stanford Dingley.

The origins of this steading are unclear, but evidence from the fabric of the historic barns suggests that there was a farm here from the C16 or C17, perhaps a simple steading with one or more barns and a single yard from the outset that developed into a courtyard plan with two yards, a livestock shed and granary in the C18 and C19. A farm is shown on this site, but not named, on Rocque’s map of 1761.The first edition Ordnance Survey (OS) map of 1877 indicates that the steading was known as Field Farm, a name which the Historic Environment Record (HER) record for the site suggests was established when the open fields were enclosed. The OS map shows a walled courtyard with the older of the two barns (the listed barn) forming the south-east arm of the yard, and a second barn at right-angles, forming the north-east arm to the yard. Attached to the north end of the second barn is a brick stable. The yard is divided in half by what appears to have been shelter sheds, arranged parallel to the listed barn. Along the north boundary of the steading is a series of detached ancilliary buildings, including a granary and a stable which probably date to the C19. The farmhouse, located to the west, is divided from the yard by an access drive. It is not listed, and appears to have been successively altered since the publication of the map; it is unclear if it contains fabric contemporary with the barns. This arrangement stayed the same until at least 1912 according to OS mapping, but after that date the central shelter sheds were demolished and a number of later buildings were constructed around the yard, including a large storage building immediately to the north of the listed barn taking up much of the former southern yard.

Analysis of the timber frame of the listed barn suggests a construction date of the C16 or C17, with a south aisle and an outshot to the west added probably in the C18 or C19; a modern extension to the east is excluded from the listing. Once weatherboarded, probably originally thatched but with a clay tile roof currently, the weatherboarding was removed from the north and south wallframes and the roof was covered with metal sheeting.

Historic England’s Preliminary Character Statement for the Farmsteads of the South-east Region (2006) explains that probably the greatest significance to the farming of the region is its proximity to the London market. Dairy production was important during the period of high farming, with one quarter of its annual rail-bourne milk being sent to London by 1870. The loose courtyard plan, formed by a collection of detached structures arranged around a yard, usually with the farmhouse located on one side of the yard, is the predominant farmstead type in the South-east. Over time these loose courtyard plans evolved with the alteration and addition of buildings. Threshing and aisled barns are particularly common in this area. The earlier barn could be extended or an integral stable opened up to increase barn space, and a porch was often added as grain output increased at the end of the C18. A second barn might also be built. A separate cow house and stable block to replace the stable originally in the barn are typical additions. From the C17, but increasingly from the C18 and C19, freestanding granaries could be added to the plan.

It is not known when the name of the steading changed to Pangfield Farm. It is understood to have been predominantly a livestock farm into the C20, but has diversified in the C21.

Reasons for Listing

The former threshing barn approximately 52m east-south-east of Pangfield farmhouse, dating to the C16/C17, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Architectural interest: it retains a significant proportion of its fabric, including a finely-crafted and near complete roof dating to approximately 1600;
* Historic Interest: an evolved structure with an added south aisle and west outshot demonstrating the development of barns in this region during the nationally significant period of high-farming.

External Links

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