The National Trust has put forth a comprehensive plan to restore the 18th-century Threshing Barn and Machine House at Croft Castle following severe storm damage inflicted by a fallen oak tree. An application for listed building consent has been submitted to undertake essential repairs aimed at stabilizing and conserving this historically valuable structure.
Situated within the Home Farm complex of the Croft Castle estate near Leominster, the affected building sustained extensive structural harm during a storm in the winter of 2024. Assessments indicate visible damage to the barn’s roof, walls, and internal timbers, all caused by the impact of a large fallen oak tree. The proposed restoration work, guided by the National Trust’s conservation principles, will prioritize the reuse of original materials wherever feasible. Efforts will be made to preserve all remaining evidence of historic mechanical threshing equipment within the barn.
Although the Threshing Barn is not individually listed, it is considered a curtilage-listed structure due to its historic association, proximity, and shared ownership with the adjacent Grade II listed Georgian coach house and stables. A structural survey conducted in July 2024 revealed the extent of the damage, encompassing collapsed roof sections, cracked and displaced trusses, fractured tie beams and rafters, and significant dislodging of stone and brick walls, particularly around the machine house extension.
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The restoration project also includes the removal and replacement of hazardous asbestos materials in the roof and rainwater goods, with careful disposal at licensed facilities in accordance with environmental regulations. The Heritage Impact Assessment underscores the potential for enhancement offered by the repairs, while minimizing further degradation of the structure.