Building record 15541/2 - Barns north-west of Higher Hall Farmhouse

<1> Peter de Figueiredo (Independent Consultant), 2015, Higher Hall, Higher Hall Lane, Edge, Malpas: Heritage Statement, R4581 (Client Report). SCH9183.

Higher Hall dates from circa 1845 and was built on the site of an earlier farmhouse which is depicted on the Tithe Map of 1839, together with three outbuildings to the north-west of the farmhouse. The 1875 OS map shows the property after construction of the new Hall built on the site of the previous dwelling. Two ranges of outbuildings shown on the 1839 map were retained and supplemented by the south range. This later range has the initials JJ for John Johnson and RJ and the date 1845. The 1875 map also shows the orchard and garden to the east and south of the house.

The farm's existing courtyard is U-shaped, with the open side facing the house. The north-east and north-west barn ranges pre-date 1839, as depicted on the Tithe Map, while the south west range dates from 1845. Significantly, the yard still retains its cobbled surface, although this has been partly covered in concrete and grass.

The two earlier barn ranges are similar in character and were designed to shelter cattle at ground floor level with hay lofts above. Until the 19th century, it remained common to keep cattle in the open over winter, but with understanding that shelter and improved facilities produced greater yields, new buildings were frequently erected on Cheshire farms. Originally the cattle would have been tethered whilst they were in the building, separated tail-to-tail by a manure passage, and fed from timber feeding boxes. However, fittings for tying and feeding have been removed so it is no longer possible to tell whether the cattle were tethered cross wise or longitudinally.

When built, the cowhouse would have had few windows. Light and ventilation were considered detrimental to the housing of cattle until the mid or late 19th century. The larger windows in the north west range are therefore probably later insertions. Some of the doorways have also been inserted more recently, perhaps to create loose boxes and to accommodate horses. The cattle would originally have been herded into and out of the building from the farm yard through these doors, and manure would have been removed to the midden for transportation to the fields. The hay loft openings, including brick ventilation holes have been little altered.

The south west range was originally built as a cart shed or possibly for carriages. It bears the initial JJ (for John Johnson) and RJ with the date 1845 on the end gable wall. Cart sheds were rarely found on farms before the 19th century, but mechanised equipment with moving parts of iron required protection from the weather and they became a common feature of larger farmsteads. The building was altered in the 1980s when it was converted for residential use. This involved infilling the shallow arched openings, removal of two original doorways and inserting a wide opening at the right hand end of the courtyard elevation with new brickwork.

The outward-facing elevation of the south-west range was designed with few openings. The double height cart/carriage entrance leads the driveway into the courtyard and there is a small doorway into the building alongside. Outside this doorway was a midden which was later converted as the base for a conservatory. The single window opening is also original and lit the lobby area where there was originally a staircase leading up to the attic floor.