Field Day: five brilliant barn conversions for sale
When it comes to countryside homes, barn conversions are among the most appealing. Not quite as quaint as a cottage nor as stuffy as a stately, these formerly agricultural buildings are full of rustic charm. As well as characterful material palettes, the homes in this series also have an abundance of natural light, voluminous interiors and flexible lateral space. From a melange of old and contemporary buildings in Hertfordshire to a renovated 19th-century home within a 20-acre estate in Hampshire, here are five of the best barn conversions currently for sale.
Penhill Road, Great Ellingham, Norfolk
Sixteen years ago, Fred and Laura Ingrams, an artist and interior stylist, bought a secluded collection of agricultural buildings in Norfolk. They had their pick of converting either a Grade II-listed 16th-century barn or an unassuming 1970s steel-framed building – and they chose the latter. The couple enlisted HeathWalker Studio to transform the industrial structure into a four-bedroom double-height space clad in greying larch with expansive picture windows. “We’ve created something that feels really honest,” Fred told us when we visited. As for the adjoining grand timber-framed barn? It remains intact and is used as a workshop and storage space. It is “an extraordinary, spiritual building,” Laura explains. Best of both worlds, we say.
Back Lane, Tewin, Hertfordshire
This spectacular home in Tewin, Hertfordshire, has a farmyard feel – in the very best way. It consists of both converted and new-build barns that are clustered in a U-shaped arrangement around a lush central courtyard. The buildings seamlessly flow from one to the next, united by their use of red bricks, rough-sawn greying timbers and pantiled roofing, which all nod to the local vernacular. Currently, the barns are divided into two separate dwellings, but they could easily be combined to create one living space. The star of the show here might just be the expansive double-height living area in the larger of the two structures, with its soaring timber roof trusses and exposed frames.
Black House Farm, Hinton Amper, Hampshire
This meticulously renovated 19th-century barn in Hampshire is sure to lure even the most dedicated city dweller to the countryside. It’s part of an extraordinary project by Robin Lee Architecture, which is encircled by 20 acres of fields and wildflower meadows. The barn, made of blackened timber and topped with a corrugated-steel roof, is a pleasing contrast to the original 17th-century thatched farmhouse, reached via a contemporary single-storey extension. The barn houses an expansive kitchen and dining room, with polished concrete floors running underfoot. There’s also an exposed oak frame, which was dismantled by a specialist, restored, lovingly reassembled and then combined with new oak panelling.
Cedar Barn, Hogshaw, Buckinghamshire
This Buckinghamshire barn conversion sits at the more contemporary end of the spectrum. In fact, if it wasn’t for the rolling fields that form the backdrop to this home, it’d be almost unrecognisable as a former farm building at all, with its Crittal-style windows, marble flooring, industrial steel beams and minimal decoration. It also has plenty of picture windows that allow light to pour into the space and provide views of the verdant surroundings: a 1.16-acre plot that includes trees, beautiful planting and a private patio to the rear, as well as a paddock. Equestrians, rejoice. Like what you see? Its neighbours Mulberry Barn and Oak Apple Barn, which share the same design DNA, are also for sale.
Langford, Lechlade, Oxfordshire
Built from Cotswold stone, this barn conversion in Oxfordshire bears all the hallmarks of an agricultural past – from its low-lying form and exposed beams and trusses to the roof tiled in Welsh slate. While the home blends in harmoniously with the local vernacular, it also has a distinctly contemporary aesthetic, thanks to the white walls, clean lines and use of glazing throughout. It’s also no doubt a little less draughty than it would have been in its previous incarnation – with environmental considerations high on the agenda, walls have been fitted with excellent insulation. Plus, it also has bio discs and a ground source heat pump.
