Darwent Architecture Ltd were commissioned to undertake a historic building restoration of a remote field barn dating from the late 19th century under the FiPL (Farming in Protected Landscapes) programme. The earliest Ordnance Survey map on which the building appears is from 1876, and it originally formed part of the Moorwood Hall Farm estate, serving as an agricultural barn.
Prior to restoration, the building retained a number of significant historic features, including gritstone quoins, an original small unframed doorway, and a grey slate stone roof. Internally, a hay rack survived along one wall, while at high level an owl box was present, where four owlets had been recorded in the months preceding the project.
The presence of the hay rack indicated that the barn had historically functioned as a feeding barn for smaller livestock since its construction, a use which the owner wished to reinstate as part of the restoration.
Working in partnership with Peak Engineers, Darwent Architecture developed a sensitive heritage-led scheme incorporating traditional architectural detailing. This included peg-hung gritstone slating, lime pointing, and the replacement of structural timber elements, ensuring the building’s character and historic significance were carefully conserved.
Derbyshire
