Building record MDO47470 - Knighton Dairy Farm, Knighton Lane, Poole

A model farm of mid- to late-19th century date constructed for Lord Wimborne, with 20th century alterations and additional buildings. It comprises former cattle shelters, stables, barn and cart sheds, and an early-20th century detached cow shed. The structures are constructed largely of red brick with roof coverings of slate. They are all single storey buildings and most of the roofs are supported on king post trusses. The U-shaped range of buildings is aligned north west - south east. There is a former stable range to the north east side which has double doors in its west gable end and single openings to the side elevations. The open-fronted cart shed that defines the south east side has a principal elevation that faces outwards to allow easier access to the surrounding fields. The buildings at the south east corner appear to have been barns, although one is now used for car maintenance. Attached to the west side of this former barn is a further cart shed, with a principal opening in its south gable wall, and an attached stable to the north with a hayloft over. Extending west is a long range that forms the south side of the second courtyard. To the south west is the detached cow house of the 1920s. This long, single storey brick range is of seven bays. The upper section of the slate-covered roof toward the ridge on either side is raised to create a louvre for ventilation along the length of the building. The original ground floor openings to the gable ends are edged with brown glazed bricks, but have all either been blocked or altered in the late 20th century. The earliest buildings on the site are shown on a late-18th century estate map, were located alongside the lane on the north side of the farmstead. The site of these buildings was partly covered by some buildings of mid-19th century date, that were latterly converted into a row of agricultural workers cottages which are largely brick-built but do incorporate earlier masonry fabric at their east end.

Knighton Farm was the home farm for Knighton House (Listed Building number 412514), situated to the north east; a 17th century house which was remodelled in the early 19th century. It formed part of Lord Wimborne of Canford's estate from 1880 but was sold in the early 20th century. The earliest buildings on the site, which are shown on a late-18th century estate map, were located alongside the lane on the north side of the farmstead. This is now the site of a row of cottages which are largely brick-built but do incorporate earlier masonry fabric at their east end. Comparison between the Tithe map of 1844 and Ordnance Survey map of 1888 illustrates the extent of mid-19th century expansion of the farm. The farmstead comprises a double courtyard; a western one defined by a long range to the south and what is now the row of cottages on the north side. A U-shaped group of buildings to the east is orientated at 45 degrees to the former and is arranged around a smaller yard. In the 1920s a large detached cow house, described as `palatial¿ in 1925, was added on the south west side of the farmstead. Map evidence indicates that some buildings at the north west corner of the main courtyard have been demolished, and that various modern farm buildings have been added to the south.

A model farm of mid- to late-19th century date constructed for Lord Wimborne, with 20th century alterations and additional buildings. It comprises former cattle shelters, stables, barn and cart sheds, and an early-20th century detached cow shed. The structures are constructed largely of red brick with roof coverings of slate. They are all single storey buildings and most of the roofs are supported on king post trusses. The U-shaped range of buildings is aligned north west - south east. There is a former stable range to the north east side which has double doors in its west gable end and single openings to the side elevations. The open-fronted cart shed that defines the south east side has a principal elevation that faces outwards to allow easier access to the surrounding fields. The buildings at the south east corner appear to have been barns, although one is now used for car maintenance. Attached to the west side of this former barn is a further cart shed, with a principal opening in its south gable wall, and an attached stable to the north with a hayloft over. Extending west is a long range that forms the south side of the second courtyard. This appears to have once housed cow stalls and there are ventilators to the roof. The rear (south) wall has been rebuilt in blockwork. To the south west is the detached cow house of the 1920s. This long, single storey brick range is of seven bays. The upper section of the slate-covered roof toward the ridge on either side is raised to create a louvre for ventilation along the length of the building. The original ground floor openings to the gable ends are edged with brown glazed bricks, but have all either been blocked or altered in the late 20th century. Early-20th century photographs of the interior indicate that there were drains within the concrete floor, some stalls and iron fittings. However no original internal fittings survive, except for the steel trusses with paired of V-shaped struts that support the roof.

English Heritage has carried out a national thematic study of the development of historic farmsteads in England from the medieval period to the 20th century and identified the most important phases of development. The period 1750-1880 has been identified in this research as the most important period of farm building overall, which witnessed major developments in both plans and building types. Examples of planned farmsteads dating from before 1840 are important if they survive in a complete state; after 1840 they become more numerous and hence some selection is required in their designation. Considerations taken into account in this selection include architectural quality or specialist functional interest and technological innovation, survival of original or significant machinery, rarity and, crucially, completeness.The coherence of a functionally related group is also important. Knighton Farm is an example of an older steading improved through rebuilding and expansion from the mid-19th century. This was fairly commonplace in the period after 1840 when agriculture expanded, owing partly to an increase in prices. The current farm complex has a planned courtyard form, with an additional detached cow house of the early 20th century to the west. The architectural quality of the mid to late-19th century complex is limited as it comprises buildings which are functional and architecturally plain. It is acknowledged that the farm incorporates earlier buildings on the north side of the complex, but their original form and function cannot be determined since they have been largely rebuilt and converted into cottages. As a planned farmstead which probably acquired its present form in the mid- to late-19th century, the plan form is of some interest since it survives largely intact when compared to the footprint of the buildings depicted on successive Ordnance Survey maps. Such 19th century farmstead plans are however not rare nationally and only the most intact and architecturally or technologically interesting will be recommended for designation. At its remodelling in the mid to late 19th century Knighton Farm probably achieved best practice in its design, based upon the clear flow-line principles of the time which were at the cutting edge of farm planning. However numerous estate farms were constructed nationally during this period and many of these possess significant architectural merit. Perhaps some of the best examples of planned farmsteads are those that were built in Cheshire during the late 19th century for the Duke of Westminster. These buildings, such as Wrexham Road Farm in Eccleston (listed at Grade II) demonstrate a higher degree of quality in architectural detail, and in their materials and craftsmanship, than is the case for the Knighton buildings. Farmsteads in Dorset dating from the same period which have been listed, such as the farm buildings at Minterne Magna in West Dorset; and the model farm at Durlweston, in North Dorset also display architectural quality. In contrast, the planning at Knighton is simple and the buildings do not demonstrate the sophistication of other model farms, which generally included innovative solutions to the collection and storage of manure for instance. Furthermore, whilst the buildings complement the nearby listed Knighton House, they are of relatively modest architectural composition and standard design, and have subsequently been compromised by incremental change. The period between 1880 and 1940 was one of prolonged depression for British farming, and little fresh investment was generally made at this time. In general only the wealthiest landowners had the means at this time to build genuinely innovative or experimental farms, and many concentrated on the production of meat or dairy produce. The construction of the detached cow house at Knighton Farm reflects the introduction of hygiene regulations at this time and the building was publicised as being at the forefront of dairy farming in the area. However it is a functional and architecturally plain structure that stands detached from the main farmyard complex. It does not exhibit innovation in terms of its planning, exterior or interior and has undergone modification, including alterations to, and infilling of the original openings and the loss of internal fittings such as stalls, glazed walls and stalls. Despite being a specialised dairy building, it is not particularly distinguishable as such and its function is difficult to understand due to the demolition of associated buildings such as the one that contained the bottling room. On balance, the cow house lacks the intrinsic architectural or technical interest which is looked for in specialised farm buildings of this date to be included on the list. Although the ensemble arguably has local interest as a whole, from a national perspective the buildings fall short of the requisite standard for designation. <1>

<1> English Heritage, English Heritage Listing File, Adviser's report in file 504684/01, case number 165433 (Scheduling record). SDO17502.

<2> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1479288 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Dec 4 2023 2:49PM