Grange Barn
Coggeshall Grange Barn, one of the oldest surviving timber framed buildings in Europe
General information
Location51°52′04″N 0°41′03″E / 51.8679°N 0.6842°E / 51.8679; 0.6842
CountryUnited Kingdom
Construction started13th Century A. D.
Listed Building – Grade I
Designated1966
Reference no.1123112

Grange Barn is a historic timber-framed building in Coggeshall, Essex, England. Grange Barn was built by the Cistercians in the 13th century to serve Coggeshall Abbey.[1] It underwent significant structural alteration in the 14th century. It is Grade I listed.

Architecture

The barn is 36.57 metres long, 13.71 metres wide and 10.67 metres high. For comparison, England's largest medieval barn, Harmondsworth Great Barn, is 58.55 metres long, 11.3 metres wide, and 11.9 metres high. The barn has a nave and two aisles. There are two midstreys (gabled porches) which would have provided access for wagons: these are 18th century.[2]

History

According to Historic England, Grange Barn is of "C12/early C13 origin".[2] However it is generally accepted that it is slightly younger than the Barley Barn, also in Essex and dated to c. 1220, which has a claim to being the oldest timber-framed building in the country.[1][3]

Grange Barn is about quarter of a mile from the site of Coggeshall Abbey, which was founded in 1140. Since the dissolution of the Abbey in the 1530s, most of its buildings have disappeared, but the barn remained in continual agricultural use up until 1960 when it was left derelict.

Conservation

Grange Barn was listed in the 1960s,[4] and in 1982 it was compulsorily purchased by Braintree District Council, after pressure from a local group which also initiated the restoration of the building, the work being completed in 1985. The restoration received a Europa Nostra award.[5] In 1989 the barn was given to the National Trust for its future preservation. The intention is to present the structure as it was in the 14th century.

Access

Grange Barn is open to the public with a display explaining the history of the Barn, as well as a collection of woodworking tools used by a local craftsman. It is available to hire for special events.

References

  1. 1 2 "A brief history of Coggeshall Grange Barn". National Trust. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  2. 1 2 Historic England. "The Grange Barn (1123112)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  3. ↑ "The barns and medieval carpentry". Friends of Cressing Temple. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  4. ↑ Tithe Barn, Coggeshall. Hansard. 1964.
  5. ↑ "The Grange Barn". www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk.
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