Grain Barn refurbishment at Pierrepont Farm is underway

At Pierrepont Farm in Surrey, work has already begun on the historic Grade II listed Grain Barn that is so prominent on the site. It’s a big project with an ambition to renovate the building so five new local artisan businesses will be able to join the brewery, silversmith and jewellery makers, artists, designers, furniture-makers and restorers, cheesemaker and handmade fudge producer that are based in the already restored Old Dairy.  

All this is thanks to a CRT supporter’s generous legacy. Stephen Freeman from Yorkshire, who became a Friend of the CRT not long after its formation 31 years ago, left around £900,000 to the charity in his Will. His incredible gift will transform the barn from its derelict state to a completely working building that respects its origins and position within the Surrey Hills National Landscape.  

Inside the Grain Barn

Photo credit: ulph.photography

The exposed roof timbers

Photo credit: ulph.photography

High up in the roof timbers

Photo credit: Kerriann McLackland

Eco-friendly restoration  

The refurbishment will retain the Grain Bran's historic features, while using both traditional and cutting-edge techniques to make the building as environmentally sustainable as possible. 

Architects Robin Sjoholm and Thomas Housden, from eco-building specialist architecture firm Outpost, explained: “There is some urgency to restoring the Grain Barn because there has been significant water ingress through the roof, which is damaging the internal walls and timber frame structure. It's important to save this historical building because it is very much a part of the Surrey Hills National Landscape.  

“Natural building materials will be used for the restoration, including hemp blocks for insulating the walls, traditional lime render, and timber fibre insulation in the roof – a waste product from timber processing. These materials allow water vapour (but not heat) to pass through, which is important in an old building to avoid historic features such as timber getting damp and suffering decay.  

“They also don’t contain petrochemicals, or involve the use of them in their manufacture, and the carbon held within them is stored for their lifespan. When they do degrade, they do not contain toxic waste like many modern building materials.  

"The Grain Barn will be heated by air source heat pumps – which use three times less energy than conventional gas boilers and electric heaters – and the building will be well insulated to retain heat. The most effective way that we can all help meet the goals that our country has set for the reduction of carbon emissions is by better insulating buildings to reduce energy use.”  

Wildlife surveys have been carried out during the planning process and bird and bat boxes will be installed.  

Scaffolding fully surrounds the building- and is a very impressive sight!  

Photo credit: ulph.photography

Work is currently focussing on the roof.

Photo credit: ulph.photography

We are using natural building materials for the restoration

Photo credit: ulph.photography

An impactful legacy  

The refurbished Grain Barn will, of course, be named after Stephen Freeman, who grew up on a small farm just outside Doncaster in South Yorkshire. He had seven older siblings – three brothers and four sisters. 

His father was given the Yorkshire Farm by the local council as part of a scheme to provide jobs for returning soldiers after the First World War. Large estates were asked to provide the Government with 50-acre plots.  

Stephen worked for International Harvesters, an agricultural machinery manufacturer in Doncaster, until taking redundancy in his 50s. He passed away in October 2021, aged 92. 

Terry Freeman, Stephen’s nephew, said: “My uncle lived a quiet, private life. He appreciated the countryside. When he wasn’t tending to vegetables and flowers in his garden, he was taking the dog for a walk. He looked after the local birds and wildlife, and he always had The Lark magazine around. 

“As executors of his Will, my cousin Stephen Roberts and I were keen for his contribution to the CRT to be recognised, so we’re pleased that the Grain Store will be named after him. I think he would be highly delighted that his legacy will be supporting the work of the charity and small independent businesses.  

Work is expected to last well into next Summer, but efforts to find new tenants to move into the five new business units that will be created, start now. 

Kerriann McLackland, the CRT's Head of Estates, commented: “We have completed the initial stripping out stage of the refurbishment and are working closely with the local conservation officer to preserve as much of the historic integrity of the barn as possible".  

“Then it will be full steam ahead with the rest of the work. It is going to take some time to carefully repair the original roof timbers and until then the building is safely protected under a temporary scaffold. Once the temporary scaffold is removed visitors to Pierrepont Farm will be able to start seeing the restoration unfold. 

“It is an exciting project. Reinstating the Grain Barn to its former glory as the gateway to The Old Dairy and a facility that local businesses can benefit from will be another important milestone in the CRT’s development of Pierrepont Farm.” 

Thanks to the kindness of people remembering the Countryside Regeneration Trust (CRT) in their Will, we have championed biodiversity and regenerated farming landscapes and woodlands for the benefit of the natural world.

For more information on legacy donations, click here

How you can help

Our farmers can’t do it without you. If you want to help us protect local wildlife and help farmers continue to farm in a nature-friendly way, you can support the CRT in any number of ways, from joining as a CRT Friend to volunteering on one of our farms and attending our events. You can also sign-up to our monthly newsletter 'CRT News' for regular updates from our farms, straight to your inbox.

Published: November 2024