An old barn near Eastcombe, Glocuestershire

Another day up on the Cotswold hills above Stroud with constant rain and low cloud cover did not stop me from a little exploration. I drove from Bisley along the ridge to Eastcombe and spotted this old barn with enough space to park safely on the narrow road.  A Public Footpath was signposted through the old farmyard so I felt it was alright to go and have a look.

The yard was rather desolate with old pens now filled with metal equipment which looked past their prime. I sensed that the farm land has been sold to another farmer and the animals that would formerly have been reared here are no longer part of the plan. This building was long and low and mostly consisted of single storey stone walls.  But towards the road there were small windows all boarded up with wooden slats and and two wooden doors with padlocks.  I imagine that originally this was a labourers or shepherd's accommodation attached to the barn but I doubt if it has been used for decades.

Around Gloucestershire's farming districts and probably all across the country these stone buildings are being converted into dwellings when planning permission can be obtained for such 'change if use'.  Sadly this is now much easier to obtain so i expect it won't be long before this is lost to the farming world.  But at least the building will be used again and looked after, but in this area it is likely to be a weekend house for Londoners, rather than the much needed local accommodation which the small villages are in great need of, particularly for families with young children.  I have thought of doing a series of the old barns and buildings dotted about the countryside, but I don't really want to publicise them.