Henley Archaeological & Historical Group

Lower Bolney Farm, Shiplake

Lower Bolney Farm
Shiplake
RG9 3NN

Lower Bolney Farm survives in a very fragmented form. When recorded in 1983 it consisted of two timber-framed barns, a range of cowsheds, stables, a shelter shed, a small labourer’s bothy and a modest brick-built Victorian farmhouse, arranged around a large courtyard. Little of this is now left. The surviving historic barn (Barn I of the survey), on the west side of the yard, consists of five bays with a central threshing floor, opposing doors, a lean-to side aisle and porch on its west side. Its central truss carries the date and initials A H 1750 T W. All trusses have clasped purlins and are of the ‘Inner Curved Principals’ type, which allows uninterrupted access at the upper level for stacking the harvest. Barn II, demolished in c.1988 ( ‘having been blown down’) not long after being recorded, was of 5 bays, central barn doors to the threshing floor, trusses with raking queen struts, 2 sets of purlins and continuous knife-cut carpenter’s marks.

Note: The farm has been much expanded and it is now the home of the Black Bears Polo Club with extensive stables
Grid Reference: SU772806
Parish: Harpsden
Surveyed in: 1983
Report written by: Ruth Gibson
Notes: The farm has been much expanded and it is now the home of the Black Bears Polo Club with extensive stables
Sort key: SHP-UNK-LBO