Download Proposed Alterations and Extensions: The Barn, Abbots Morton

Proposed Window Alterations: The Barn, Abbots Morton Road, Abbots Morton
for Ms K E Brighton
ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
1.0
Site Description
The property known as The Barn is situated on the south side of the single village lane
at the centre of the village Conservation Area occupying a site with an area of
approximately 0.17hectares.
The site is bounded along its west boundary by an historic footpath and on its east
boundary by modern development. Beyond the south boundary the land is open
farmland.
2.0
Historic Significance
The building known as The Barn consists of 3 separate attached buildings forming an
L-shaped grouping probably built in the latter part of the 18th century as farm
buildings serving Manor Farm opposite the site. Early plans suggest the existence of
a further small lean-to building on the west elevation of the main building since
demolished.
The buildings are all built with a local red brick and would have been built with plain
clay roofing tiles on dual pitched roofs.
The main building, originally of single storey construction is likely to have been built
as an open-fronted cartshed opening onto a yard separate from the main foldyard to
the rear of the farmhouse or onto field access.
The single storey attached building could have provided further equipment storage
with the 2 storey building at the west end as a workshop and store with a granary
over.
Abbots Morton - 1885 with The Barn shown in red
Architectural and Artistic Significance
It is unlikely that the building underwent any great change or alteration prior to its
conversion into a dwelling in the 1960s. It is however believed the building had a
major structural re-roofing to the main cartshed building at some earlier period of its
existance.
The conversion to a dwelling in the 1960s necessitated considerable changes to the
buildings both internally and externally which substantially altered the architectural
style of the building whilst retaining the simple L-shaped grouping. The building
internally was divided into separate rooms with partial accommodation created at first
floor level.
The open cartshed bays in the east elevation were infilled whilst retaining the overall
form and large glazed openings cut into the rear west elevation and a large external
chimney breast added on the south gable. Windows were inserted at both ground and
first floor levels in both the north and south elevations and two partially glazed
dormers were formed in the west facing roof slope. A detached double garage was
erected beyond the east elevation.
The further alterations in 1995 integrated the original two-storey building within the
dwelling and the single storey link was widened to improve the accommodation with
the installation of further windows in the north and south elevations.
Over all the building has retained its original legible architectural form but whilst the
subsequent alterations have had an impact upon the building simplicity they have not
had a serious impact upon the buildings relationship with the surrounding buildings.
Within the street scene the building retains its overall form and place whilst the
addition of the detached garage has removed the openness and long view to the south
along the east elevation and the erection of 3no. detached dwellings on the adjoining
land has altered the character of this part of the village.
The alterations now proposed to The Barn will replace the existing timber and metal
windows of various styles and ages with uniform white softwood two and three light
windows traditional within historic rural areas of Worcestershire without detracting
from the built form of the current building and without impacting upon the special
interest and character of the village.
View south - Detached Garage
Part north elevation
Part south elevation
South-west corner
Internal view
L Brian King August 2014