Photography was undertaken in 35mm digital SLR colour photography (using a 10.4 Mpixel format). Photography was undertaken of the historic farm buildings to create a primary archive and included general shots of the site and detailed photography of room arrangement; main elevations and constructional details such as window openings, and fixtures and fittings, such as doors and window fenestration. Weather conditions began frosty on both days, remaining generally clear with an awkward low winter sun. Low light levels necessitated the use of flash in all interior situations and included some fill-in flash to penetrate the shadows in the exterior shots. The photographs were further supplemented by Room-based record sheets and Brickwork recording sheets. The buildings at Whaplate Farm, Messingham provide physical evidence of the evolution of farming practices from the early 19th to the mid-20th century in rural North Lincolnshire. The existence of a farm on the site is evidenced by the portrayal of the farmhouse and barn on the enclosure award plan of 1804. The barn and one of the elements of the north range are constructed of stone and are survivors of the earlier arrangement. The modern appearance of this group as a 'C-plan' farm demonstrates its conversion to a crewyard arrangement of the High Farming movement which originated in central Lincolnshire in the early- to mid-19th century. Buildings were added from the late 19th century onwards, until the farmstead was converted from a mixed farm to a piggery in the mid-20th century. While the original uses of the outbuildings is identifiable, their conversion to house and raise pigs has largely masked any evidence of any earlier uses to which the buildings may have been converted in the interim
Simon A Savage (Wed,) studied this question.