Well, here it is. With its engaging lop-sided appearance, this is all that remains of Park Farm in Emmer Green. Nicknamed "May's Farm" by locals, it occupied land to the west of Caversham Park, having been moved there in about 1865 from a previous location to the north of Caversham Park. This place is our studio, and my idea of heaven. The exposed beams are a constant inspiration to me and a joy to work under. I've put some snaps here for you to look at, together with some photo's of the original farm.
When we first bought this place it was in a parlous state. The roof structure was unstable and begining to lean, while the walls were badly cracked. The surveyor told us not to enter without a hard hat! We had to strip the tiles off the roof, strengthen the beams, and then rebuild large portions of brickwork. Before replacing the tiles we also put in two skylights to make it usable as an artist's studio. We were pleased to find a roof tile with the date "1734" insrcibed in a workmans hand, near the apex of the roof. Unfortunately it was cracked, so we couldn't put it back, but we do still have it! The workmen formed the opinion that the northern end of barn is older than the rest. Perhaps the barn was added to when this became the site for the new Park Farm in 1865. A tithe map of 1844 shows various small agricultural buildings on the site, but it is hard to be sure which is what!
Much of May's Farm was demolished in the 1930's to make way for a petrol station (Emmer Green Garage), and a semi-detached house (of which we own half). The main farm house itself remained until the 1960's, only to be demolished and replaced by more modern housing. This would seem a shame, since it looks to have been a substantial property, but perhaps it was very run-down by then.
The 1870's OS map (modified slightly by me) shows May's Farm and all its barns intact. It's the first map which makes any real sense! I've highlighted my studio in yellow. As you can see I have the "end" of a once much longer barn, and this accounts for its lop-sided appearance. Some of the walls still remain, forming the western boundary walls of our next door neighbours. Our house is built somewhere in the old farmyard, while the plot immediatley to the north of my studio in now occupied by Emmer Green Garage (our other neighbours). The Black Horse Inn still stands, as does The White Horse (our favourite). Caversham Park, which used to be "just over the wall", has now been turned into Caversham Park Village, a huge 1960's housing development much prone to subsidence problems.
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May's Barn, viewed from the south and the east, with the long wall showing its original length
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Emmer Green Garage as built in the 1930's, and today
Emmer Green Garage stands on the northern-most plot of May's Farm. The photos show it as it was originally built, and it stands today, marred forever by "bolt-on" 1990's architecture of appalling design! Our house is the bit of roof to the right of both pictures.
Please do sign the guest book.
(You can also read the comments that others have made)
More information about Emmer Green can be found on the Emmer Green Residents' Association website.
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©Charles Burns/www.roving-artist.com/The Edo Barn Site/silhouettes@me.com/This page was last updated December 2006