When we escaped to France, high up on our list of ‘must have’ requirements for our Grande Maison was a large Barn. However, the one that came with this house was in rather poor condition and we may take several years to get around to restoring it.
The roof will need removing, all the beams have been seriously ravaged by woodworm and the even the previous owner had considered to dangerous to enter during the 30+ years he owned the property.
The bottom half of the barn was full of the usual kind of detritus. Old ploughs, empty barrels, corrugated iron, chicken feeders etc. Walking around we did see that woodworm had seriously taken hold. The beams and boards were in very bad shape. The boards could simply be crumbled by grabbing them in your hand. The upper floor definitely would not support the weight of a human. This was further proof nobody had been up there for decades.
The problem we had was surrounding the barn was 30 years of brambles, ivy and hazel trees. Worse than that the previous owners had laid numerous animal traps. These traps are designed for wild boar. They would now be rusty and and give you a nasty bite.
Upon clearing some brambles, we found an extra door on the side of the barn. The door was totally rotten. Mandy headed inside. There were no lights and the door was only ⅔rds height. It had been equipped as a chicken coup. The roof boards in this section were in absolutely terrible condition as they were also damp.
This was the first time we had been behind the barn. Animals had obviously been using a stretch near the barn as a track. Probably dear or wild boar.
Inside the Barn we could see bicycles from the 1940’s, huge butter churns, stone knife sharpeners, giant saw tables, pianos, old sprung metal prams, Motorbike frames, lanterns, plus lots more. However the floorboards were basically crumbling dust held together by ivy. To enter would be seriously foolish! Mandy are you listening?
Mandy was also keen to plan her orchard in the wooden area behind the barn. However, it appeared, someone may have beaten her to that idea. She spied rotten apples on the floor that wild animals had been eating.
Also where was our well hiding? Would we find it? Probably not…
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