News + Events

David Hempshall – Sheffield City Council

I now have a structural report on the condition of the Barn (the listed part) at the Reignhead site.  Very briefly it states three main issues

• the roof is leaking through the broken skylights and these need repairing
• the original timber rafters show signs of "wet rot", but only beneath the broken skylights and hence a repair to these will prevent further deterioration
• the external face of the gable end of the "threshing room"  has two holes in it which will require rebuilding

Whilst, this is not all bad news (it could have been a lot worse) we have a couple of issues.  The first being due to the roof being Asbestos any roof repair (I will be looking at a temporary repair to the skylights whilst a long term solution is identified) will be difficult.

Secondly, the gable end will probably end up as a complete rebuild, and I am aware that a section has collapsed in the last week.  This work has issues due to we would like to take off the roof and some of the stone walls of the "sheds" abutting the barn, to allow scaffold access and use the stone as a repair, whilst these are not part of the listed building the conservation officers have some issues with this that still need resolving.  Another issue is ideally the work wants starting soon, but building using "Listed building methods", in the winter don't go together  (Lime mortar will not set in cold conditions), and finally there is the ever present issue of the cost!   I am currently working on how to find funding.

However, all of the above issues are hopefully "overcomable"

Date:April 2010 

Reignhead Farm, Beighton Village, Sheffield

Clive Betts MP (Sheffield Attercliffe) and Beighton Councillor Helen Mirfin-Boukouris have added their support to local residents in Beighton by asking English Heritage to give urgent consideration to the possibility of listing the Winnowing Barn at Reignhead Farm, Beighton Village, Sheffield.

Clive Betts said:

“There are very few historical buildings left in Beighton. I know that many local residents believe that, if possible, the Winnowing Barn should be renovated and not demolished.

I have written to English Heritage to add my support to the request that it gives urgent consideration to listing the building.”

Helen Mirfin-Boukouris said:

“Rumours are rife that the City Council is looking to relocate surrounding allotments with a view to developing the whole site. It is vital that the City Council comes clean about its whole intentions for Reignhead Farm.”

Clive Betts added:

“It is little surprise that local residents are suspicious. They have noticed how, without any consultation, the City Council has recently tried to sell playing-fields at Crystal Peaks for offices and playing-fields at Woodhouse Mill for a road development. In both cases, it has only been the united opposition of local people that has brought a halt to these plans.”