In January 2015, the Museum embarked on the dismantling of a late 18th century barn and early 19th century stables at May Day Farm, Tonbridge.
The buildings were in the path of a road widening scheme on the Tonbridge—Pembury section of the A21 in Kent. The work was led by Museum Carpenter-in-Residence, Joe Thompson, and the project has been partially funded through Balfour Beatty, the contractors for the road scheme.
After careful dismantling, the timbers were conserved and stored at the Museum, before re-erection in 2018.
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Overview
Dates From
Late 18th—early 19th century
Dismantled
2015
Reconstructed
2018
Original Location
Tonbridge, Kent
History
Video: Time-Lapse of Dismantling
Watch this fascinating time-lapse video of the structures being carefully dismantled:
The Threshing Barn
The three-bay, oak threshing barn is estimated to date from 1780—1830, the significant features being the ridge board and the stud framing utilising a significant amount of re-used timbers and re-sawn slabwood.
The Stables
The two-bay, oak stables are estimated to be of later date than the barn, from 1800—1838 (the latter date based on map evidence), again with ridge board and re-used and re-sawn timbers.
May Day Farm barn and stable pictured prior to dismantling.
A New Exhibit for the Museum
The building materials were repaired and conserved in the Museum’s Gridshell conservation workshop during 2017, prior to being re-erected at the Museum for spring 2018.
Repair and conservation in the Museum’s Gridshell workshop during 2017.
The buildings are sited near to the Museum’s Hay Barn from Ockley and will form part of a 19th century farmstead.
Top 3 Interesting Facts
Ridge Board
The oak threshing barn dates from c.1780—1830, its significant features being the ridge board and stud framing.
Trunk Road
The buildings were in the path of a road widening scheme on the Tonbridge—Pembury section of the A21 in Kent.
Conservation Workshop
The building materials were repaired in the Gridshell conservation workshop during 2017 and re-erected early 2018.
