188 CERNE ABBEY BARN. 



in time to save the porches, which have been reproduced in exactly 

 the same lines as the old porches. And, outside, all that meets the 

 view is in accordance with the old state of the roof ; which now, 

 as formerly, is covered with " heling stones " or stone tiles. All 

 honour to the owner for delivering us from the eyesore of raw slate 

 on the old, time-stained walls. 



The building now standing is of nine bays, each about 12ft. Gin. 

 long, giving the total length as a trifle over 1 1 2ft. But the barn 

 either has been, or was intended to be, much longer. At the north 

 end it is unfinished. There are there cheeks and springers of porch- 

 arches, like those of the two existing porches. It is almost certain 

 that to the north of the second porches there were, or were meant 

 to be, four bays, as is the existing plan at the south. Thus we 

 may add five bays, or 62ft. 6 in., to the length, making it 174ft. in 

 all. This is an enormous length for a barn, truly, yet more than 

 100ft. less than that of the gigantic barn at Abbotsbury. I ought 

 to say, however, that in a short notice of Cerne Abbas Barn in the 

 British Archaeological Association Journal for 1872, 200ft. is given 

 as the length ; but I do not see that any ground for this assertion 

 is mentioned. The width is 30ft. inside, about 35ft. outside. The 

 height of the walls to the eaves is 22ffc. The height of the gables 

 from the eave-level to the apex is 23ft. This gives a splendidly 

 lofty pitch, the triangle being nearly equilateral. The base is 

 about 34ft. or 35ft., and the sides more than 28ft. on the slope. 

 The central bay of the walls is occupied on the east and west sides 

 by a porch of singular, although, perhaps, undefinable, charm of 

 design. The western porch is capped by a rich and beautifully 

 carved finial. The arched doorways are bold and lofty enough for 

 a load of corn to go in easily. As at Abbotsbury, there is a small 

 side-door to the porches. The four southern bays were long ago 

 turned into the farm house a transformation much to be lamented 

 archseologically. Knocking through the door and window openings 

 is said to have cost almost as much as a new house -would have 

 done. The old* roof over this part remains, although nmch 

 * It is about to be repaired. 



