DOI: 10.5284/1057526
title: Low Byre, Low Fawnlees Farm, Wolsingham: Building Recording (OASIS ID: solstice1-363816)

description: Solstice Heritage LLP was commissioned by Mr Simon Robeson to produce a record of the built heritage resource prior to the conversation of Low Byre to a residential annexe at Low Fawnlees Farm, Wolsingham. Low Fawnlees Farmhouse is a Grade II listed building (NHLE 1233184). As such, the agricultural byre is considered curtilage listed and is located at (NGR NZ 06090 38556). The byre is a mid-18th-century cow byre, currently used for sheltering sheep and is a typical representation of a North-Pennines agricultural farm building with semi-coursed stone walling, a low hipped slate roof and access from both the central farmyard and the surrounding pasture. The historic building recording of the byre has provided a documentary and photographic record of the building. It can be seen that the byre developed in two distinct phases, all of which relate directly to its use as a livestock and agricultural byre from the 18th century and including a substantial mid-20th-century renovation. The earliest map reference to Low Fawnlees located was the 1838 tithe map of the area, on which the byre is seen as a distinct building on the northern side of the farmstead. This layout has remained largely unchanged up to the present day, though modern farm sheds have been subsequently built adjacent to the byre and the main road to the farm has been redirected. As such, the byre can no longer be accessed from the main road. The first phase is the original 18th-century build of the byre, separate to the main farmstead but still accessed from within the main farmyard to the west. The second distinct phase comprises presumed early- to mid-20th-century renovation of the roof, alterations and insertions to windows and door frames, and the insertion of an internal subdividing wall creating the separate Rooms G1 and G2. At this point, the main stalling in Room G1 was upgraded with cast-concrete stalls, trough, foddergang, group and rear walkway. The insertion of the external chimney stack may belong to a separate phase between the two distinct phases or may be part of the 20th-century alterations. The subdivision of the internal space seems likely to have been, at least in part, for the creation of a loosebox at the southern end. The use of looseboxes was of importance to farmers cultivating fat stock during the 19th century, while smaller byres were often used for domestic milk cows (Edwards and Lake 2014). The building is typical of the North Pennines agricultural vernacular but is also demonstrably part of a farmstead with some elements of agricultural ornamentation. The traditional aesthetic lies in its semi-coursed watershot stone walling with lime mortar, accented by large stone quoins and the low hipped slate roof. The later renovations are obvious due to the fabric changing to machine-made red brick, or where the inserted or altered door and window surrounds fit uncomfortably against the stonework and are patched in with cementitious mortar. Overall, Low Byre retains much of its original form and legibility of historical use, with little of the historic fabric having been altered or lost over time. Where the 20th-century renovations and alterations have been inserted, they have also retained the original purpose of the structure, while contributing an additional phase of use to its story