known medieval barn village london borough england previously historic county middlesex north west fields airport built early 15th century largest timber framed building england regarded outstanding example medieval described english poet similar smaller barn complex barn briefly royal ownership passed hands families continued use agricultural purposes late 1970s subsequently owned property development company redeveloped farm complex company went bankrupt barn bought property betting compensation value nearby airport expanded barn fell disrepair closed public day year english_heritage stepped rare legal procedure carry repairs owner consent eventually purchased barn january open public april october second fourth sunday month management group structure barn measures metres long metres wide metres high bays running north south direction occupies square metres internal volume cubic metres doors east permit entry wagons exterior barn roof originally larger structure wings north wing dismantled rebuilt demolished hamlet site modern airport vast majority surviving structure original estimated cent including external survived original building described english_heritage supreme example late medieval masterpiece containing best intact interiors age type europe outstanding example late medieval barn largest timber framed building england type based longitudinal frame rows posts connected arcade plates tend long high experience high structural loads wind numerous internal acting way buttresses strengthen structure gives barn distinctive internal appearance beams holding roof techniques construction similar employed great built time probably involved barn main posts oak inches square sits block sandstone common building material medieval london posts cut shape axes marks seen instances builders cut fitted ground roman called assembly marks joints indicate pieces timber combined pairs main posts large individual trees cut placed upside relative original direction tree tree wider greater width needed accommodate joints beams support roof despite care builders took joints right mistakes way holes alternatively reused construction rows arcade posts support tie beams curved strengthen frame collar beam supports opposing principal supported crown post roof run length barn principal additional support curved wind aspects design unusual way executed terms early date number features barn described english_heritage experimental unusual attributed high level skill master built use enabled barn architects increase width provided maximum space floors longer barn floors provided english went evolution number floors earliest central floor design found britain unusual having floors allowing grain time boards exterior barn mixture oak pine fir modern relatively modern origins south end barn noticeably lighter colour rest result repairs fire barn roof holds tile courses total tiles originally held place oak tiles replaced years oak replaced nails effects decay floor barn originally hard packed flint gravel held iron excavated local gravel deposit readily available alternative stone subsequent years repaired brick tile ultimately cement original appearance floor indication looked obtained outside west barn design barn provided inspiration number architects 19th 20th centuries involved gothic revival movement sir visited barn design basis proposals new new_zealand library oxford designed late 1880s owes inspiration barn library completed designed origins barn design history manor owned king seized death battle hastings years later william granted close subsequently transferred acquired abbot prior william gave founded establishment revenues went supporting college great barn site early manor record shows men wanted required great barn sunset recorded survey conducted survey recorded existence monastic addition wheat barn damaged storm records sent repairs large quantity tiles nails materials purchased time existing barn evidently inadequate college records indicate commissioned men john obtain kingston thames use new barn date matches early fifteenth century origin great barn established architect known possible involved main carpenter oxford master carpenter windsor castle worked repairing church practically door manor involved appears employed college time completed barn store grain manor farm manor taken king henry viii add hunting estate appear shortly granted family remained hands half 20th century manor owned family farm died farm sold died late 1970s scheduled monument given grade listed building status march new heritage protection legislation brought force barn continued agricultural purposes late 1970s couple narrow escapes 20th century second world war german flying bomb flattened nearby barn managed roof tiles great barn barn southern bay seriously damaged fire subsequently restored building greatly admired poet sir dubbed cathedral middlesex underwent detailed eighteen month survey late 1980s later went rebuild shakespeare globe theatre supported neglect rescue barn surrounding property purchased builder property developer aimed restore barn serve showcase company farm underwent major changes dilapidated buildings demolished new shaped office building constructed facing barn planning permission granted basis income new offices supposed pay ongoing repairs barn following initial renovation carried company went buildings individually sold new owners receiver attempts sell barn separately fell receiver offered barn english heritage refused offer instead gibraltar based company calling bought barn company assets reported seeking speculate obtaining compensation proposed expansion airport compensation paid land required property demolished barn fell slightly outside area required new runway new owners effort maintain barn fell disrepair closed public apart annual day opening conjunction september raised alarm edition magazine cornerstone deteriorating condition barn highlighted magazine cover story magazine reported recent visit dozen gaps roof seen large site appeared lack fire fighting equipment easily accessed plants taken root stone brick begun damage medieval blocks barn stands english heritage issued statement saying owner barn declined engage english_heritage local authority years despite offers help support advice grants noted expansion area surround site barn sides according plans seen propose demolition removal leaves question marks barn future particular issues viability setting following publication cornerstone article english_heritage stepped begin legal proceedings lead compulsory purchase barn carried emergency repairs barn november owners consent agency carried unusual legal manoeuvre speed works barn scheduled monument grade listed building enabled notice issued owners objections repairs mainly involved fixing holes roof preventing rain water repairing sides intervention english_heritage led protracted dispute cost repairs scheduled come trial april january settlement reached sold barn english_heritage time government abandoned plans expand airport barn liability company chief executive english_heritage called barn greatest medieval buildings britain built skilled worked magnificent medieval rescue heart english heritage local member parliament praised hard work local people english heritage staff said secured wonderful building future generations welcomed decision calling barn symbols dominance rural economy past immense investment materials agriculture deserved reopening future management barn managed volunteers local preservation group acting behalf owners english heritage open public free second fourth sunday month april october
Harmondsworth Great Barn