Hoyles Barn

Bradfield

Hoyles Barn is a 16th Century cruck framed field barn, one of a group of 28 cruck barns found within the parish of Bradfield, believed to be the largest single group of cruck barns in the United Kingdom. As a result of a highly exposed location and a lack of ongoing maintenance, the grade II listed barn had suffered a partial collapse of the stone slate roof and timber frame, leaving the remaining structure highly vulnerable, and resulting in threats of enforcement action.

Bench Architects prepared a comprehensive Management Plan for the restoration of the barn, as part of an application for grant funding under the Countryside Stewardship historic buildings restoration programme. Through extensive liaison with the conservation officer and grant officer, the grant application was successful, and planning and listed building consents were obtained for the proposed works. Due to the barn’s isolated location, vehicular access is only possible via an unmade track which traverses a Site of Special Scientific Interest. A bespoke access and logistics strategy was therefore developed, using helicopters to deliver plant and materials to site. A fully enclosed structurally independent scaffold and temporary roof was designed in order to protect the building from further deterioration.