An oak framed barn in Herefordshire
A couple of weeks ago we put up a glamorous rural tractor/storage shed near Leominster in Herefordshire, a stone’s throw from our base at Castle Ring. Richard and Christina commissioned the frame as part of ongoing work and projects associated with their house and grounds. Most people of Richard and Christina’s age might possibly be winding things down and heading for beige knitted tank tops, but not this intrepid couple. Both were positively excited and energised by the whole idea of an oak framed barn to home their vintage Massey Ferguson and visited us in the workshop to see at first hand their frame being built.
Day one
After a couple of weeks in the workshop we were ready for the frame raising in the corner of their bountiful orchard of apples, pear and ripe plums. Christina had given strict instructions to preserve, if possible, a delicate fruiting apple tree right beside the foundations. Would it survive the rigours of a Castle Ring raising? Would there be any apples left by the time we’d finished?
The frame went up smoothly and by 4 o’clock we had finished the main 2 bay structure, complete with a joisted floor platform, single purlin, ridge and windbracing.
Christina and Richard kept us plied with tea and home made cake, which along with all the fruit in the orchard meant we could barely move all day.
Day two
We were more than happy to return to finish off the roof the following day, which involved fitting the common rafters ready to receive the roofing batten and slates.
A lean to structure at the rear of the building will be used to store and dry logs. A stone “staddle” or plinth was still being sourced for one of the posts, so we made do with some temporary blocks of wood.
By early afternoon we had “topped out” the frame:
…managed to not kill Christina’s precious apple tree:
…and Richard and Christina were chilling out in their stunning new barn.
We enjoyed the whole experience as much as they did and look forward to seeing the the barn finished. But please. No more plums!