Ahhh, the wooden barn...

Near HAMMERTOWN

At EVERSLEY

                                                                                     Close to KETTLEBY                                            Photos by Barry Wallace


barn n. Middle English (probably about 1200),
developed from Old English (about 950) berern, literally, barley house.

In this world of newfangled building materials, let us celebrate the return  of the wooden barn to our countryside.   For many decades wooden barns have been an endangered species... vanishing landmarks.   But as evidenced by the photos above, their relegation to historical footnotes appears to be reversing somewhat by these new, old barns.   They seem to be part of a nascent trend hereabouts and worthy of our encouragement.   In the 1972 book The Barn, architect Bill Lacy says, in the foreward: "...man naturally knows how to build good and true buildings".   That natural talent is definitely expressed in simple, functional and serene designs, such as the 'shed roof' pictured at top, fast-forwarded into the 21st century with the addition of solar panels.   May the trend continue.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace