Foulden Tithe Barn

The Foulden Tithe Barn was one of those happy moments where you happen upon a new place as you're out and about in the car. We were just on our way back to Coldingham when we spotted a signpost for the barn and obviously pulled over to investigate.

Apparently it is one of only two surviving medieval tithe barns in Scotland, the other being at Carrington in Dumfriesshire. The barn is located in the churchyard of Foulden Parish Church and also spills out right next to the road, so it's difficult to miss.

It is a two-storey building where the walls are made of rubble, with dressed quoins (masonry blocks at the corner of a wall) and a slate roof. The interior of the barn is divided into two bays by a central partition. The lower bay was used for storing grain, while the upper bay was used for threshing and winnowing. (Lots of new words learned today!)

The date of construction of Foulden Tithe Barn is uncertain and it is possible that the barn was rebuilt in the 17th or 18th centuries.

As with the Swinburne Tithe Barn, the barn was used to store grain and other agricultural produce that was given to the parish church by parishioners.

The gate next to the steps from the road was locked, but you can access the tithe barn through the church graveyard.

It's a champion little place to visit if you're exploring the north eastern part of Northumberland.