Introduction
to Barns

Cruck Frames

Cruck Frames were traditionally constructed by selecting the trunk and main branch of a suitable oak tree, squaring it off with axe and adze and then sawing it lengthwise to make two matching cruck blades.

This style of construction carries the weight of the roof directly down to the ground, so that the walls are non-load bearing. They can be filled with light material such as brick, wattle or wattle and daub and can easily be changed or renewed.

Below you can see the cruck construction of a small barn (Court Farm) and a very large barn (Leigh Court).

A very nice photo record of the construction of a cruck framed shelter at Kew at Castle Howard can be found here.

cruck frame
Court Farm Aylton

cruck frame - Leigh Court

Raised Cruck Frames

If there was a supply of good, local stone, as in the Cotswolds, The crucks could be raised on stone walls, this gave a greater span for the same length of cruck or a greater height where tall trees were less plentiful.

In the picture below of Bradford-on-Avon Tithe Barn, you can see how the collar beam stops the outward spread of the roof. You can also see the wind braces between the crucks which stop lateral movement.

raised cruck roof trusses
Bradford-on-Avon

The photograph on the right, taken at the junction of the wagon porch and the main barn, shows how the cruck is set into the wall. Notice the horizontal wooden plinth which helps prevent damp rising up the cruck. The top wall plate can also be clearly seen.

Queen Post Roof Trusses

The queen post roof truss was a later development. Here posts or crucks were inserted itno the tie beam to form a triangle with the cruck or principal rafter. This made a very rigid structure where the rafters and tie beam joined the walls.

The photograph below shows the use of queen posts in the wagon porch in the barn at Frocester Court. The one below right shows queen post roof trusses in the Great Barn of Bredon.

Aisled Barns, King Posts
& Cross Braces

The diagram on the right illustrates some of the most sophisticated timber framing structures as found in the great aisled barns of Cressing Temple, Coggeshall, Bredon and Great Coxwell. The king post with its braces and/or cross braces allowed a very rigid structure. The addition of an “aisle “ on each side of the ”nave” allowed a much greater width. Variations in this type of structure arose from different materials and repairs at different periods.

The photograph above shows the roof structure of Coggeshall Grange Barn. As well as the king posts, you can clearly see the braces springing from three sides of the aisle posts.

Above is a photograph of the Barley Barn at Cressing Temple

This shows the interior of the Great Barn of Bredon. You can see the charring from the fire in April 1980 on the near right aisle post. The fact that this is still supporting the great stone tile roof shows how rugged these structures are. You can also clearly see the stone plinths supporting the aisle posts.

On the right is the interior of Great Coxwell Barn. Here the aisle posts are supported on two metre pillars. This extra height, along with the double braces on the aisle posts, gives the impression of walking into a forest.

If like me you are entranced by the elegant aesthetic of these buildings you will find some lovely pencil drawings and more photographs of timber barns on my Antique Buildings page.