Rubble farm house and farm buildings at Westbury-sub-Mendip — The Old Ditch area of Westbury-sub-Mendip, Somerset, showing Stream Farm and small traditional farm buildings of rubble construction characteristic of the region. © Peter Williams/Historic England

The Old Ditch area of Westbury-sub-Mendip, Somerset, showing Stream Farm and small traditional farm buildings of rubble construction characteristic of the region. © Peter Williams/Historic England

Farmsteads Character

Here you can find statements to help you understand the character of farmsteads in your area of interest. We hope the statements will be of use and interest to researchers, local authorities, land managers, farm owners, local communities and visitors. Historic farmsteads, comprising the farmhouse and working farm buildings, make a fundamental contribution to landscape character, local distinctiveness and a sense of place.

They do this through their varied forms, use of materials and the ways they relate to the surrounding landscape and settlement pattern. They are also assets which, through agricultural or new uses, can make an important contribution to the rural economy and communities.

Contents

How do the farmstead character statements work?
Farmsteads character statements reports map

How do the farmstead character statements work?

The Historic England Farmstead & Landscape Statements have been written by Jeremy Lake, working with others where acknowledged, in order to summarise evidence on farmsteads and buildings in their landscape and settlement context, as well as the historic character, significance and foresight issues for each area. An illustrated statement has been produced for almost all of England’s 159 National Character Areas (NCAs), since these provide a framework used for the delivery of agri-environment schemes, as well as local planning and land management.

Each Farmstead and Landscape Statement is supported by our advice on farm buildings, which provides links to the National Farmsteads Character Statement, national guidance on Farm Building Types and a fully-sourced summary in the regional Historic Farmsteads: Preliminary Character Statements.

This work also forms part of wider historic landscape characterisation research on historic landscapes, including the mapping of farmsteads in some parts of England.

We hope that the extensive and comprehensive nature of these statements will encourage comment and debate, and we are happy to receive feedback from readers on any errors, omissions, or points for further discussion and clarification. Please send comments to [email protected] by 31 Dec 2021.