The Barn


This article was uploaded by Nicholas Cleak at 23:48 09 February 2008

The barn is very well made and in good condition except for the roof which was burned a little over 10 years ago, it is quite church-like in it’s shape and is very dry inside under the remaining piece of roof, there are three areas to the far end of the barn with arched entrances, today one would call them luxury garages … (NB015) Possibly storage for the horse carts. There is a One Inch Diameter Tie Bar going right through the building to support the outer walls, possibly added at a later time if the walls were found to be bowing out. (NB017) The bar was anchored outside with large X braces. The front entrance is as original but the rear one has been bricked up with a normal door in the middle. Some nice features are the arrow slit type windows (NB011-14) The Barn and Rear of the stables sandwich a courtyard. At the racecourse end of the barn adjoins a very small cottage two rooms up and two down with a coal fireplace in each room, and a rather special fireplace in one room. (NB007-8) its purpose unknown.

I never tire of my walks to the old mansion, there always seems to be something new to see. I good 2 hours can be taken up walking over from the main road and exploring the buildings and another hour or so if you go via the Wye valley walk from chepstow Leisure centre . Where there is a seat and wonderful views over lower chepstow castle and the Severn Bridge and estuary, it is always misty in the morning due to the angle of the sun, a summer afternoon would be a better time to take some photographs from that point.

I eagerly await to see the future of these fascinating Parklands and buildings which have a rich history , There is a lot which can still be preserved and re-used , if I won the lottery my task would be to re build the place and the outhouses exactly as they were , I’d like the stables for myself to do something with Classic cars and especially that little cottage with the attractive oval window and garden orchard with the tiny pond would make a cosy home … Let’s Hope the right things are done to this quiet and pretty idyllic place… and sooner rather than later…