Holland Fold Farm, Heath, Charnock, Lancashire- Building Investigation

Frank Whittaker Town Planning Consultants, acting on behalf of Mr G Berry made a planning application (Planning Application 06/001/163CU) to Chorley Borough Council to convert and develop a Grade II listed barn and farmhouse at Holland Fold Farm, Heath Charnock, near Chorley in Lancashire (SD 60299 15687). As part of the planning procedure, the council consulted Lancashire County Archaeological Service, which recommended a building recording programme of English Heritage (2006) Level III standard. This was to include a rapid desk-based assessment, which would provide a historical background and detail any changes in the development of the farmstead. In addition, a site investigation was to be undertaken, comprising written descriptions, as well as an extensive photographic record, and site drawings of the floor plans and sections.
Following these recommendations, Frank Whittaker Town Planning Consultants requested that Oxford Archaeology North (OA North) undertake the building investigation, which was duly completed in June 2006.
The survey and rapid desk-based assessment revealed that the farm was built in the late seventeenth century, and has survived remarkably well for a building of its age and type. Although the barn would appear to have been conceived as a threshing barn, it is debatable whether this process evolved any further than the simple and labour-intensive, manual process. Certainly, there is little evidence of either horse or steam power, so it is probable that threshing was taking place at the farm no later than the mid to late nineteenth century. Following on from this, the barn would appear to have been used as a stables, as evidenced by the tack rooms to the south end of the barn. This, in conjunction with its use as a general storage space, would appear to account for the history of the barn. The cottage itself would appear to have essentially remained the same, with the addition of three extensions on the west elevation.