The Wheat Barn (Click here for an mpeg of the Wheat Barn).

This wonderful building was constructed about 50 years after its neighbour, the Barley Barn. The constructional details of both barns were important in the development of the technique of dating timber-framed buildings by the types of carpentry joints used. This technique was pioneered by the late Cecil Hewett.

Technically Speaking.
Of the two barns, the Wheat Barn is the most complete and remains little altered from its original design. The building is 40m long, 12.2m wide and 11m high and consists of a midstrey, four equal bays and cantilevered ends. It was originally constructed from 472 oaks felled between 1257 and 1290 and is designed in the ‘Romanesque’ style, that is all the timbers are straight and of square section. There are six identical trusses with passing braces meeting at a scissor above the collars. In contrast to the Barley Barn the passing braces are split in the arcade post, possibly a concession to the availability of long, narrow section timbers or possibly an improved design. The trusses are retained with side purlins clamped against the collar with ashlar posts.

This building exhibits a number of important design features. The building also illustrates the transition from the notched lap to the secret notched lap joint with both joints being present within metres of each other in the east wall. (The building lies on an east-west axis with the main doors facing north and south). The trusses are approximately 5.6m apart and to overcome the roof sagging between the trusses, ingenious subtrusses have been incorporated to strengthen the span.

Originally the walls were constructed of vertical oak planking set between two studs per bay.The entire west end of the barn has had its walls replaced with thicker, more densely spaced studs at the turn of the 15^th century. The trusses have been remodelled with curved ‘shores’ rather than the original straight passing braces.

Close analysis of the dimensions of the barn by Adrian Gibson have revealed that the barn was designed according to the principles of mediaeval church design using circles and 30 degree angles to raise the elevation from the floorplan.

See how Adrian worked out the geometry of the barns.

The Modern Wheat Barn
Looking at the timbers of the barn it can be seen that it has evolved over its lifetime and where once was all oak, square and straight there are now curved timbers, brick plinths and brick panels. During a major expansion of the site in the late 16^th century, the barn was extensively renovated and the timber walls replaced with brick panels as we see today. The whole barn was raised on a brick plinth to arrest the rot of the soleplates.

Later repairs and efforts to prevent sagging and racking have seen the introduction of nailed-in windbraces and off-centre posts on the cantilevered ends. During the Victorian period, extensive renovations are evidenced by the carved names and dates of the workmen.

Inside, the midstrey was lined with weatherboarding which is still in place and one carries a witches' mark to ward off evil. With these are the remains of pairs of forked posts designed to carry beams across the midstrey. Sheets of canvas were hung on the beams and by this method the airstream passing through the barn could be regulated to suit the type of crop that was being winnowed inside. Lighter crops require lighter winds to prevent the seed being carried away with the chaff.

More recently a combination of concrete and wooden floors, including a raised dias at the east end were put in to suit the needs of a 20^th century farm. Archaeological investigation showed the midstrey had been completely machined out and it is said that this was done to accommodate an armoured car during WW2.

The most modern repairs were carried out by the County Council after the Great Gales of 1987. Only two weeks after they purchased the site the gales badly damaged both barns and threw the Waggon Lodge into the pond. These repairs are easily recognised in both barns by the square headed bolts holding the new timbers in place, a reversible strategy.

Using the Wheat Barn
The east end of the barn is taken up with a substantial exhibition detailing the site, the evolution of timber framing in Essex, dendrochronology and other aspects of vernacular architecture. Unlike the Barley Barn, where the take-down 350 seat theatre can be installed for events, the Wheat Barn is not proofed for amplified sound. However it is regularly converted into a 100-cover plus restaurant or a display area or a stall-holders covered market for the many fairs and events held on the site.

Details can be obtained by telephone on (UK) 01376 584903.