GAZATTEER

The great barn at East Riddlesden Hall, just outside Keighley, is a wonderful example of a northern aisled barn. The massive dressed stones of its walls and the huge stone roof slates, along with the low profile of its roof, make it seem smaller than it is. But once you get inside, the slighltly tapering arcade posts and curved tie beams give you a wonderful impression of space.

Like most northern barns it was used for both crops and livestock. The National Trust has kept the cattle byres in the aisles, so you get a good impression of how it would have been for most of its working life.