| Description | Building at Middle Nook, Wadsworth. Early 18th century agricultural building later converted to workshop dwellings.
An archaeological assessment of the out building at Middle Nook was undertaken by Peter Thornborrow (WYAS) c.1990. The photographic images produced by the assessment are held by WYAAS (Thornborrow, P.H. 1990),
The buildings of Middle Nook were the subject of an archaeological building recording undertaken by Stephen Haigh (Buildings Archaeologist) in 2006. The work was carried out in accordance with a specification for building recording provided by Peter Thornborrow (Senior Historic Buildings Officer. WYAAS) in relation to Calderdale Council planning reference numbers 03/00896/CON and 03/00897/LBC, 'Subdivision of building two to form two dwellings' and Calderdale Council planning reference numbers 03/00898/CON and 03/00899/LBC, Conversion of barn to form a dwelling'. The survey was confined to photography and written record. The photographic images produced by the assessment and survey report are held by WYAAS (Haigh, S. (Buildings Archaeologist). 2007).
Two buildings were surveyed. The barn attached to the house, which is the subject of PRN 12895, and building number 2 which is the subject of this record. The part of the report regarding the building number 2 is summarised below:
This is ruined building forming the north west side of the yard at Middle Nook. It is rectangular in plan but has been extended at the south west end. This building is of thinly coursed rubble with edge layed quoins. The front, south east elevation is rendered but has a chamfered doorway with crude hood mould at the left end with a blocked secondary window above and to the right. Further to the right is a ground floor six light and varied mullioned window (suggesting re use of materials), and a four light first floor window. There are shaped kneelers at either end of this elevation. The south west gable has an addition built up at its left end giving a buttress effect. The south west side of this addition has a number of plain flat faced openings of haphazard form and a plain doorway at ground level. The original gable has a chamfered window surround with crude hood mould and missing mullion. There is an earlier pattern of blocked openings consisting of three rows of blocked, chamfered breathers which indicate its uses either as a former barn or wool warehouse. In addition, there is a chamfered doorway at the left hand of this elevation within the narrow addition. The north west side is rendered. The entrance in this elevation has monolithic flat faced jambs and lintel, and to the left is a partly blocked five light window with king mullion, the variability in the stone work suggests a reuse of materials. Further to the left is a similar, now blocked, window. At the far right in the extended part of the building is a blocked two light window. Both ends have kneelers which match the front. The north east elevation has largely collapsed but chamfered breathers and chamfered doorway with triangular lintel were identifiable.
The interior is divided into four rooms by the secondary spine and cross walls. Each of the rooms had an upper floor of which only fragments survive. The ground and first floor rooms at the building's east corner were heated, served by a stack in the cross wall. The lower fireplace has a plain chamfered mantel shelf suggestive of an eighteenth or early 19th century date,
Evidence suggests that the building was built as a barn or other agricultural building with the subdivision being introduced in the 18th or early 19th century. One of the new areas appears to have been living accommodation the others were probably workshop areas for textile production, although the poor condition of the building makes any conclusions certain. |