Farmstead Guidance

The Farmstead Guidance section provides a national context or framework for understanding farmsteads, the contents of which area summarised on the right.

These are the key periods for the development of farmsteads.

Present to 1940

Wide-span multi-purpose sheds are either sited on the farmstead perimeter or have replaced earlier buildings. They relate to concreted areas of hard standings, and often to new access routes.
For more information on Historic Development from 1940-present click here

1940-1880

There was little fresh investment due to the long farming depression in this period, notable exceptions being some estates, the modernisation of dairy farms and in the inter-war period the intensive rearing of pigs and poultry.
For more information on Historic Development between 1940-1880 click here

1880-1750

Most farm buildings date from this period, and in particular the capital intensive ‘High Farming’ years of the 1840s to 1870s.
For more information on Historic Development between 1880-1750 click here

Before 1750

Substantially complete farm buildings of this period are rare: typically only the farmhouse and barn survive.
For more information on Historic Development before 1750 click here

National Historical Development Periods

Farmstead Guidance Section

Regional Character Summaries

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