SDO21204 - Moigns Down Barn, Moigns Down, Owermoigne, Dorset. Results of a Heritage Impact Assessment

‘This report presents the results of a heritage impact assessment carried out by South West Archaeology Ltd. (SWARCH) for the proposed restoration-development of the historic ruined barn at Moigns Down Farm, Owermoigne, Dorset. This work was carried out on behalf of a Private Client (the Client) in advance of a planning application. The cartographic, documentary and building evidence at the site suggests Moigns Down Farm has been occupied from at least the later medieval period onward; the site being a multi-phase complex, with an involved narrative, which is currently focused on the former 16th or 17th century threshing barn, B1, the farmhouse having been demolished in the 1970s. The development will secure the long-term future of the building while retaining is agricultural character and broad appearance of being a ‘barn’ in the landscape. The conversion approach is conservation-led and felt to be sympathetic to the heritage limitations and character of the buildings. Whilst there is expected to be some minor loss of heritage fabric form the alterations, it is felt this is far outweighed by the public benefit of saving this building, so it can continue to represent the important farming narrative of this Downland region. In terms of designated heritage assets, there is one Scheduled Monument group Listing, which includes four barrows within 1km of the farmstead on the break of slope above the barns; despite the richness of this archaeological landscape the visually recessive location of the barns means there is no inter-visibility with assets outside of its valley location. The nearest Listed building is Watercombe Farm, to the south, Grade II Listed and the nearest scheduled monument is a barrow group on the down to the east, with no direct inter-visibility. The zone of visual influence drawn up for the site indicates screening from hedgerows and trees, as well as the visually recessive valley bottom location of the farmstead is very comprehensive, and even those assets in relative proximity to the site are largely insulated from any visual effect. The aggregate and cumulative effects were also deemed to be minimal (negligible adverse), though the effect on the historic landscape, restoring a historic farmstead as a crucial element of that historic landscape is considered to be slight/beneficial.’