Summary

Two tithe barns at Wyke Farm.

Source: Historic England

Details

This record was the subject of a minor enhancement on 20 January 2016. This record has been generated from an "old county number" (OCN) scheduling record. These are monuments that were not reviewed under the Monuments Protection Programme and are some of our oldest designation records.

This monument includes two tithe barns situated on a gentle south east facing slope on the north side of the wide valley of the River Yeo. The tithe barns survive as two rectangular upstanding roofed buildings forming a continuous range and standing to full height. The north western barn has seven bays and two opposed extending gabled porches. The south eastern has twelve bays and two similar porches to the north east with through entrances without porches on the western side of the barn. A solid internal wall with a through doorway divides the two barns. Many of the roofing timbers are original, although some restoration has occurred to the lower barn. The barns date to the 16th century and retain many original features a later building has been added to the north east end and pigsties to the north eastern side which are not included in the scheduling. The barns are within the manor of Wyke which once formed part of Sherborne Abbey. The barns are listed Grade II*.

Source: Historic England

Reasons for Scheduling

The church in medieval Britain was of vital importance in all parts of life, not just deaths, baptisms and marriages. Church services were the framework of everyday existence and the strict calendar of festivals, Saint’s Days and events laid out by church authority were pivotal. Not only were charges levied for all services provided by the church, but peasants and farmers were expected to provide labour for free and one tenth of their yearly produce to the church as a form of tax called a tithe. Failure to pay tithes was likely to result in eternity spent in Hell undergoing torment, a fate regularly re-iterated during services to ensure parishioners fully complied. The tithe normally took the form of a tenth of the harvested grain which had to be stored in specially constructed barns known as tithe barns which could be extremely grand buildings exhibiting the best aspects of local building methods and materials. The two tithe barns at Wyke Farm stand to full height remain in use and retain many original features.

Source: Historic England

Sources

Other
PastScape Monument No:-199554

Source: Historic England