Middle House Farm Barn, Chipping, Lancashire. Archaeological Building Investigation.

A building investigation was undertaken in July 2003 of a redundant barn, formerly part of Middle House Farm, near Chipping, Lancashire (SD 5868 4304), by Oxford
Archaeology North (OA North) following a request by Mr Kelsall, who had proposed the redevelopment of the building for domestic use. Lancashire County Archaeology Service (LCAS) had requested that the investigation be carried out prior to any development taking place due to its historic significance.
The barn was found to have formed part of a small farmstead called Higher Brown Brook. This was observed by this name on the first edition Ordnance Survey map of 1847, which shows the three buildings that are present today. A ruined farmhouse lies adjacent to the barn and forms a laithe house arrangement, with a small shippon located to the south west. The farmhouse and barn, although physically connected,
show signs that they are not contemporary. This can be observed in the building stone used: the regular coursed, tabular stone of the farmhouse contrasts with the random
coursed stone rubble and cobblestone used in the barn.
The barn would most likely have been used for a combination of animal housing and storage. The slightly wider west bay would have acted as the shippon, with the central
and east bay providing storage for carts and hay. This type of combination barn, with a slight widening at one bay, is typical of the area and are consequently known as
‘Lancashire barns’.