Projects Updates:

18/02/2010 12:55: Humphrey's barn

Humphrey’s barn
 
Built about 1790 the barn is the oldest building at the Museum and was part of a farm worked by Henry Humphrey. It was built as a five-frame timber threshing barn, with a thatched roof. At some stage a lean-to cart shed was added at the northern end.
 
When the Pepper family worked the site they incorporated the barn into their group of industrial buildings. By the 1950s it was in use as a vehicle workshop, with a concrete floor and an inspection pit. Various repairs and adaptations were made including removing the thatch and roofing the building with the present pantiles.
 
In late 2007 it was decided to restore the barn as it had deteriorated over the years. Age, water penetration and the weight of the roof tiles on top of undersized and wood-wormed roof timbers had all contributed to the problem.
 
Funding was obtained from SITA Trust, the Friends of Amberley Museum and an anonymous donation and work began in early 2008. Work was carried out by a volunteer team and completed at the end of 2009.

18/02/2010 12:54: The restoration work

The restoration work
 
Following advice from a timber frame expert at the Weald and Downland Museum, it was decided to retain as much of the original framework as possible but to encase the building in plywood to give it rigidity. Scaffolding was erected, the roof tiles and rotten timbers were removed and the barn covered in plastic to protect it from the weather.

Once the missing roof timbers were replaced, the roof tiles were cleaned and re-instated. A small number of new tiles were purchased to replace broken tiles. The four walls were re-clad externally with timber and the corrugated metal sheeting was replaced at the exposed end.
 
All timbers were treated against wood-worm, new electrical lighting was installed and drainage works were carried out to prevent flooding. The existing double doors at the front were re-hung and a new set made to reinstate the matching doors at the rear that had been taken out at some time in the barn’s life and boarded over.