Shields Barn, Barnard Castle, County Durham: Historic Building Recording

Photographic and written survey/description The building is an excellent example of a south Durham/North Yorkshire field/cow barn, constructed with traditional techniques including the use of throughs on the east and north elevations. The barn is ventilated on all sides with slit ventilators/embrasures, and the ground floor holds evidence of four entrances. The south-facing elevation appears to be the primary facade, with the presence of a large arched entrance (large enough for a cart) and a personnel doorway to the side, with the rear of the property holding two personnel doors opposite the arch and door in the southern elevation, though both had been blocked in antiquity. The prior removal of all the byre fixtures and fittings does pose a problem for interpretation, though the interior suggests the byre being originally located in the eastern section of the building with the hay mew (loose hay stored and used to feed cattle over winter months) set in the western extent of the barn, though the positioning of the two forking windows on the first floor, south side, suggests that hay was also likely stored on top of the byre itself as well, though the window above the byre was then blocked at a later date. The addition of a dovecote in the eastern gable end was also a nice feature, suggesting a certain amount of status for the building, though unfortunately the internal boulins had gone. The age of the barn can be estimated at the first half of the 19th century. However, the building may be older, but the primary element for dating barns of these types is the roof structure, which has been replaced at least once at the beginning of the 20th century (according to historic mapping) and then again more recently, so that resource is not available.