The Ten Percenters

Today I am recalling a delightful day spent in the company of  my adored niece, on a 13th century property which she had mentioned as a possible outing. Look at this place. No, this is not medieval Italy.

This is English heritage. This is the Middle Littleton Tythe Barn (fiendishly difficult name to get straight) near Evesham in Worcestershire on the edge of  the bucolic Cotswolds.  My lovely guide persevered through numerous subdivisions and a complex downtown to find this ancient gem. 

The National Trust dates the property at 1250, other records cite 1376. The barn is associated with the Benedictine monks of Evesham Abbey, third largest abbey in England. Dendrochronology suggests the 1250 date is more likely.  Wikipedia chimes in with a plausible explanation to the date conflict.

Tithe barns were built to store hay and grain crops prior to threshing, whereupon, in return, the monks collected tithes (or one-tenth of the crop) to support their works. Among these was the maintenance of a hostelry for visitors to the Abbey, and perhaps a cider press? Here's the National Trust history of the tithe barn, which contains a photo of the main door which I neglected to capture.

The Benedictine Abbey, the third largest in England, was founded in Anglo-Saxon times and destroyed in 1540. It is astonishing what Henry VIII's fit of pique resulted in. A few weeks ago I mentioned in this post how we read about these events but don't really grasp the violence and destruction which resulted. In this case, almost the entire abbey was destroyed but for the few cherished bits mentioned in this article. 

As we wandered up, a personable volunteer guide emerged from the an open outbuilding to escort us and share his enthusiasm for the property. We wandered the huge ancient space. My companion gave our host the attention he deserved while I wandered awestruck. 

I defer to the National Trust for an adequate description:

-130 by 42 feet wide

-walls supported by buttresses, 8 on long side, 3 on end

-"raised cruck" style: the large cruck timbers rest on stone walls, not the ground

-holes in the walls are putlogs - held scaffolding during building

-originally porches on east and west sides, only one remains

-constructed of Blue Lias stone and Cotswold stone dressing

-triple purlin roof tiled in stone

-roof slates from 6 to 18 inches long, originally secured with wooden pegs

- decorative finials above gable roofs ward off evil

Our visit ended with a wander in the apple orchard, where dedicated volunteers are working to establish heritage varieties. Here's more on that initiative.

Warm sun glinted off fresh spring leaves and the august tower of lovely St. Nicholas Church.  

Worcester Pearman

   

The afternoon ended with a delightful picnic in the long grass dotted with wild-flowers, in the company of a dear wise woman.