How many stone barns* do you think there are scattered through the fields of the Yorkshire Dales? Evidence has been found around Linton and Askrigg of medieval field lay-outs and stackgarths for hay but most early barns were probably made of timber, often with a thatched roof. You can still see a heather thatched roof barn at Grimwith reservoir and see a cruck-built barn (recently built using traditional materials and methods) at the rear of The Craven Arms in Appletreewick. It's the first cruck framed barn to be built in the area since Henry VIII reigned, and uses a green oak frame, river sand and horse hair mix for plaster, and sheep wool for insulation.
Most stone barns were built in the 18th century, and often combined cattle housing and fodder storage. Field barns are also known as laithes, and usually found some distance from main farm buildings, in hay meadows so hay could be stored over winter. When cattle were housed in the lower part of barns, their muck could then be used to fertilise the neighbouring field for the next hay crop.
You can learn more about how barns were used at Town Head Barn on the edge of Malham, at Keld Resource Centre and Dales Countryside Museum
When you next spot a field barn, look out for the smaller upper holes in the barn walls. What do you think they were used for? Clue: a bird that likes to hunt.
(*called cow’houses or cow’us in Swaledale)