Field barns and outfarms

Overall vulnerability

Features assessed:

• Field barns and hay lofts
• Isolated field barns
• Outfarms

Special qualities:

• Landscapes that tell a story of thousands of years of people, farming and industry
• Characteristic settlements with strong communities and traditions

Feature description:

Field barns are individual buildings that are not associated with a yard, that provide crop storage or animal shelter for example, whereas outfarms are a building or buildings associated with a yard and often some distance from the farmstead.

In all areas of the PDNP field barns can be found in many fields, in the corners, on the edge, or sometimes in the middle. These small stone buildings usually provided haylofts above and accommodation for livestock below.

There are over 2,600 field barn and outfarm sites in the PDNP. Of these, 13 have listed building status, four of which were built before 1700.

How vulnerable are field barns and outfarms?

Field barns and outfarms in the PDNP have been rated ‘moderate’ on our vulnerability scale. This score is due to a high sensitivity and exposure to climate change variables and a variable condition, but with a high adaptive capacity.

However, changes to farming practices have led to these buildings being subject to high rate of abandonment and loss. Changes to the economics of farming and farming practices due to climate change may drive modernisation of some historical farm buildings, altering the traditional character. Greater extremes of temperature may also be damaging to buildings exposed to the elements. Despite this the position in the PDNP is much better than the picture nationally assisted by the diverse location and layouts.

Current condition

Outfarms and field barns have suffered high rates of loss. Due to their typically limited access and prominence in the landscape, changes to other forms of use can have a very high impact on their aesthetic and historical value and to the landscape as a whole.

Uncertainty over the future of upland farming, changing farming practices and the need to diversify mean that many upland farmsteads and field barns have become unused, or subject to another form of use. Unused buildings are more likely to fall into disrepair or dereliction.

Two-thirds of recorded examples in the PDNP are considered to be field barns comprising one or more detached buildings set within or on the edges of field. Of these, almost half retain some traditional farmstead character. Although many are marked as standing buildings on recent Ordnance Survey maps, it is likely that many of them suffer from some level of dereliction. By national standards this level of survival is high.

Just 13 of the over 2,600 field barn and outfarm sites recorded in the PDNP have listed building status. This very low level of designation is typical across England for this type of site and almost certainly represents under-designation, but further work is required to better understand the significance of the resource.

What are the potential impacts of climate change?

Overall potential impact rating

Human behaviour change

Upland farmsteads are likely to be very sensitive to changes in farming economics as a result of climate change. Buildings may become redundant, the refurbishment or maintenance of them may become uneconomic, or refurbishments may occur that causes the loss of historic character. Modern techniques may also be harmful to the way these buildings work as changes such as damp proofing, dry lining and impermeable insulation could potentially create problems within the buildings as they can no longer 'breathe'. Data Certainty: High

Direct impacts of climate change

Building materials such as wood, stone, metal and paint are sensitive to fluctuations in temperature with an increase in expansion and contraction leading to an acceleration of attritional damage. Data Certainty: Moderate

Wet masonry and other building materials are sensitive to frost, especially repeated freeze-thaw, and may be unable to cope with additional rainfall frequency intensity. This could lead to damage of masonry, slates and other building materials. This may be made worse if there are inadequate rainwater goods or none at all. Data Certainty: Moderate

Winter flooding could see historic structures severely damaged or weakened by hydraulic action and increase in flow of sediment or debris. Repairs for repeated flooding may be uneconomic and lead to abandonment. Data Certainty: Low

Invasive or other species interactions

Increased annual average temperatures and wetter warmer winters could see buildings sensitive to structural damage from increased growth of some plant species such as Japanese knotweed, trees and shrubs, insect infestation, rot and fungi. This may accelerate the physical damage to building materials and cause structural problems with movement and collapse exacerbated by changes to the ground compromising building footings. Data Certainty: Low

Changes in humidity and wetter warmer winters could see an increase in mould growth in buildings, insect infestation and fungi. Damage caused in this way often needs intrusive renovation work. Data Certainty: Low

Sedimentation or erosion

The cracking of the ground in hot drought periods makes building materials susceptible to damage with the overall long term robustness of structures potentially compromised with damage to the fabric or solidity of walls. Data Certainty: Low In wetter weather traditional building materials can be damaged and degraded due to an increase in erosion by hydraulic action. Data Certainty: Low

What is the adaptive capacity of field barns and outfarm?

Overall adaptive capacity rating

The Peak District has a high survival rate of field barns and outfarms. Their location is diverse as are the layouts and configurations found across the White, Dark and South West Peaks. Data Certainty: Very High

Countryside Stewardship options are available to restore, maintain or conserve traditional buildings as part of a pilot scheme however these sources are limited and their future is uncertain. Data Certainty: High

Currently there is a very low level of designation, but there is potential to designate a greater proportion/the most important examples - but only if nationally significant. No field barns are currently on the national heritage at risk register. The PDNP has its own risk register for Grade II buildings and at least one barn in included within it. Data Certainty: High

There is a good level of information about what assets exist, and the skills do exist to adapt and maintain buildings. However, there could be a lack of financial incentive to maintain or restore field barns as they are mostly redundant for modern farming. Adaptations may also be harmful to wider landscape and therefore contrary to planning policy. Data Certainty: High

If funding is available field barns have the potential to be adapted to cope well with climate change however upgrades need to be appropriate to historic building materials or they risk causing problems, for example if the building cannot 'breathe'. Adaptations could also impact on the wider landscape. Data Certainty: Moderate

Key adaptation recommendations for field barns and outfarms

Improve current condition to increase resilience

The current condition of a feature is an important factor alongside its sensitivity and exposure, in determining its vulnerability to climate change. These recommendations are aimed at improving the condition of the feature at present, therefore making it better able to withstand future changes to climate.

• In order to halt large-scale dereliction and decay, some change in use is inevitable and work to enable quality conversions to economically viable uses, while maintaining the character as far as possible, should be encouraged where appropriate.
• Investigate alternative funding streams to support adaptation.

Improve current condition to increase resilience: Targeted conservation efforts for important sites and at risk areas

The current condition of a feature is an important factor alongside its sensitivity and exposure, in determining its vulnerability to climate change. These recommendations are conservation measures aimed at those sites that will have the biggest impact for this feature – either because they are particularly important for the feature or because they are most at risk from climate change.

• Work to identify the most significant landscapes with field barns for enhanced maintenance through future environmental land management schemes.