Foot and Mouth Outbreaks

Guide to the identification of Historic Farm Buildings and Archaeological Remains on farms affected by Foot and Mouth decontamination procedures

(NB This advice has been produced to deal with the specific circumstances in Worcestershire. Other types of historic building survive elsewhere and may require special attention).

Worcestershire has a long and complex agricultural heritage, much of which survives as historic farms and farmsteads. Most of these have 'evolved' over many centuries resulting in a diverse range of building forms, dates and styles in each farm. This guidance note is aimed at providing basic assistance for the identification of building and earthworks that may be threatened by Foot and Mouth decontamination works. Staff of the Archaeological Service have identified a number of farms to MAFF that contain historic buildings, or lie adjacent to archaeological sites. Arrangements should be in place for joint visits to these sites with the Vet. If, however, you discover any of the following features on a farm then please contact the Archaeological Service as soon as possible (see below) to arrange a site visit.

In most cases it is anticipated that damage to historic buildings or archaeology can be avoided once the issues are known and appropriate treatment can be applied. The advice of the District Conservation Officers should be sought in such instances. If the eventuality of demolition does arise then this will become the responsibility of MAFF (to avoid any legal implications over demolition/alteration to buildings that are protected under Listed Building legislation) and an appropriate level of recording should be agreed. Note that any building older than 1948 within the curtilage of a farm containing a listed building is also covered by Listed Building regulations.

The Archaeological Service is fully aware of the importance and urgency of the decontamination process. It has built up a sound working relationship with MAFF and the other agencies during the first stage of dealing with the Foot and Mouth outbreak (identification of burn/burial sites). It will work together with the veterinary service and contractors to quickly identify, prioritise, and resolve any issue over historic buildings or archaeology that arises.

Types of Buildings

The most notable historic farm buildings are the timber framed barns, often covered by weatherboarding, many of which are listed buildings. All these buildings are important, however brick and stone built buildings of the C18th and early C19th are also of value as it is during this period that model and planned farms were built. Additional building types such as hop kilns, privies, pig sty's etc. all form important group elements in historic farms. Together, the buildings that make up a farm complex are a key component in Worcestershire's distinctive architectural heritage. It is not just the external structure that is important, but contemporary fixtures and fittings relating to the buildings use.

In addition to the farm buildings, archaeological remains may exist immediately adjacent to the farm and may be effected by the construction of the lagoon to hold disinfectant water. These will principally be of earthwork monuments. The guide below will aid in the identification of possible archaeological remains.

Timber Framed Buildings

These are readily identifiable by either being of a timber box frame with wither brick, wattle and daub or other form of infill of the panels formed by the framing. Alternatively the framing may be completely covered by horizontal weatherboarding, or indeed completely encased in later brickwork. These buildings range in date from the C13th to the C18th, identifiable from the type of framing and the style of roof construction. They are possibly under the greatest threat from the disinfecting procedure as fragments may survive in what might, at first glance, merely appear to be an old shed!

'Cruck' Timber Framed Buildings.

These are a specific type of timber framed building. They are identifiable by having trusses from floor to roof apex cut from single pieces of timber. Cruck timber framed buildings are predominantly medieval in date. Known examples are rare in Worcestershire and all are listed buildings. It is, however, possible that some unrecorded examples remain hidden within later alterations to buildings.

Brick Farm Buildings

These are the commonest types of building that will be encountered on farms, and it is difficult to describe briefly which forms are of greater of lesser importance. As a basic rule brick buildings are important for their group value in determining the character of the farm complex. However, the more ornate the building the more important the individual structure may be. Some of the brickwork, and the mortar, may be very friable and this should be taken into account in considering the type of disinfectant treatment.

Buried Archaeology

Earthworks

There are three main earthwork types that may be present adjacent to the farmyard. All of them may simply appear as 'lumps and bumps' in pasture fields.

a) Ridge and Furrow

This is easy to identify as it has a washboard appearance across the field. The ridges may be in access of 1m high in well-preserved examples, but is typically c 0.3 to 0.5m high. Ridge and furrow is a relic of medieval ploughing of open fields and is a rapidly diminishing historic landscape feature. It may also mask earlier archaeological features.

b) Earlier Farms or Deserted Medieval Settlements

These are hard to define from the ground and may not form any coherent pattern. Look out for holloway's with level platforms next to them. These should not be confused with areas of recent dumping which is often indicated by large expanse of nettles and docks.

c) Historic Ponds

A farm may have the remains of a moat to an earlier farm, a fishpond or cart-washing pond adjacent to the building. These may go back to the medieval period, and may contain hidden features such as sluices or stone bases. Advice should be sought before considering re-excavating such features to use as a lagoon.

If you feel that any building or earthwork described here is directly or indirectly threatened by the contamination process then please contact the County Archaeological Service immediately. We will then be able to confirm whether the buildings or earthworks in question are important and provide advice and further contacts on how to deal with them. Tel: 01905 855455 during normal working hours & ask for Jez Bretherton or Mike Glyde. At weekends contact Malcolm Atkin on 07702 294270.

English Heritage have produced the following technical advice:

• The MAFF advice line suggests that only disinfectants need be deployed on affected farm buildings (where cattle, sheep and pigs have been housed or passed by).
• High-pressure water washing is not necessary, can be damaging to the buildings and risks washing the virus into watercourses. British Standard 8221:2000 The Cleaning & Surface Repair of Buildings BSI 2000 gives general advice on masonry cleaning. Nicola Ashurst, Cleaning Historic Buildings Vols 1&2. Donhead 1994 gives specialist advice on cleaning historic structures and surfaces.
• Setting fire to historic structures to eradicate the virus is obviously not approved - it contravenes listed building legislation and local authorities should be warned to be vigilant against illegal works.
• A safe (in historic buildings terms), widely available, approved MAFF disinfectant is formalin. Those disinfectants with a high pH (ie alkaline) should not be used on fragile historic surfaces, as there is a danger of residual disruptive salts being left behind.
• Some disinfectants are also dyed to aid operatives to see where they have sprayed - these should be avoided as they risk permanently staining the historic surfaces.
• Those concerned about supplies of cob, daub etc - where cow dung and farm yard clay is seen an integral part of the mix - should not be too concerned. The virus cannot live outside animal hosts for very long. If in doubt, add a small amount of formalin (10%) to the mix diluted in water.
• Needless to say, any extremely sensitive surfaces eg those potentially containing wall paintings should not be so treated and specialist help must be sought.