When dealing with traditional farmsteads, it’s easy to assume that age alone guarantees heritage protection. But in the case of Fields Place Farm in Herefordshire, it was the legal concept of curtilage that became the real test.
The farm includes three Grade II listed buildings: a farmhouse cottage, a dovecot range, and a set of timber-framed stables with an attached wall. The buildings sit in a historic cider farm layout, but ownership, use and layout have changed over time. A two-storey brick outbuilding now proposed for residential reuse lies within this complex—but is not itself listed.
So the question arose: is it curtilage-listed?
Curtilage listing isn’t just about proximity
While the building sits close to listed structures, that alone isn’t enough. Curtilage protection depends on the threefold legal test established in case law:
- Ownership at the time of listing
- Functional association with the main building
- Physical layout or relationship
In this case, changes in ownership, separation by fencing, and shifting building uses since the early 1980s meant that the barn didn’t meet all three tests. As a result, it is not considered curtilage-listed—though still sits within the setting of the listed buildings.
This distinction matters. It means the building can be altered under different rules, but still requires sensitive design to preserve the character and setting of the wider farmstead. Though functional uses change, social history still matters!
Light-hearted slice of local lore
While today’s planning proposals might hinge on curtilage and case law, in the past, the real test was whether your barn was … in the heyday of Herefordshire’s cider-making, the farm that kept the best cider on tap could always count on the most enthusiastic help at harvest time. One tale tells of a neighbouring farmer who, after running out of cider mid-picking, found his workforce mysteriously “called away” to a rival orchard—where the barrels were still flowing and the apples, apparently picked themselves. It’s said that negotiations over wages were often less about shillings and more about the strength of the cider on offer. This reminds us that heritage is about people, stories, and the small details that bring old buildings and their settings to life.
Reusing historic farm buildings—the right way
The proposed reuse retains the agricultural character of the barn, reusing existing openings and avoiding major alterations. Suggestions like conservation rooflights or ridge glazing were explored to increase light while preserving visual integrity. Materials like breathable insulation and lime plaster were recommended to balance energy efficiency with conservation.
The takeaway? Getting curtilage wrong can derail a planning proposal. But getting it right allows sustainable development while respecting historic character. It can still be reused for housing but retaining ancillary functions. The design must ensure it can never be a separate dwelling and must respect the setting.
At Archway Heritage, we help navigate the legal and spatial complexities of farmyard planning—bringing forward confident, compliant proposals.
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