5 Red Lane and adjoining barn

(Unlisted in 1973, and now Grade II listed)

The only obvious change here is that the "barn adjoining" has been incorporated into no 5. At one time it belonged to the branch of the Ford family who ran what later became the Post Office in premises next door to the Ilchester Arms ~ the precision is needed to distinguish that building from the various other Post Offices that have existed in the village. In those days, the barn was indeed a barn and store room, complete with a hoist beam and pulley for lifting stores to the upper floor. The barn later became a garage before being turned into extra accommodation for no 5, and the garage beyond the barn (on the left-hand side of the colour photograph) also belonged to the Ford family.

The house itself, described as mid-19th century in the listing, in contrast to the other Red Lane properties, was modernised many years ago, but when it was first returned to the Estate after being used as a wartime Army billet, it consisted essentially of one room, with the water supply coming from a tape in the lane. The modernisation included removing cupboards from either side of a fireplace, to reveal an ingle nook extending nearly the entire depth of the front room.

It has once again (2007) been modernised on the death of its latest tenant, the oldest Abbotsbury resident at the time.

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