Summary

The farm buildings are a large group dating predominantly to the late 19th century, although there are some later additions. The buildings have an 'E' shaped plan, enclosing two yards; the latter no partially occupied by 20th century portal frames.

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Description

The Godlingston Farmyard buildings are interesting, not just as an example of a late Victorian planned agricultural complex, but for their scale and architectural detailing. They represent a particularly large capital investment for the Bankes Estate, at a time when there was considerable in such buildings elsewhere on the eastate. As elsewhere, the opportunity was taken after the fire of 1871 destroyed the old farmyard, to remove the farmyard operations some way from the dwelling house.
The unusual random slab cladding of what are essentially brick buildings, the gothic detailing of barge boards, dormers and openings, and the commanding position facing across the valley to Swanage, all indicate that the farmyard was intended as 'showpiece'. The original appearance, juxtaposed with the older Farmhouse, must have been striking. Much of the visual impact is now obscured by modern buildings erected in front of the group.
Inevitably, time and the changing needs of modern farming have taken their toll, although the essential coherence of the original grouping is retained. Interiors have been altered, opeinings enlarged, floors removed and new partitions inserted to create usable spaces.
The farm buildings are assumed to have been built as an entity, shortly after the 1871 fire destroyed the old buildings which were grouped close to the Manor House. The exact date and the architect/ builder have not yet been determined, but a search in the Stewards Accounts in the Bankes Archive at the County Record Office, Dorchester, should yield this information. Mr Bowerman believes the Swanage firm of Hardy were involved.
Prior to construction, there was a range of stables on the site of the present stable block, but facing east; also a small building - possibly the Milk House referred to in accounts of the fire - which stood roughly on the site of the east end of the rear range.
Construction of the farm buildings required considerable excavation of the gently sloping land to create a level platform; hence the steep banks at rear and front, which limit scope for further expansion. As built, both yards were divided by brick walls, remanats of which remain in the east yard.
Subsequently, the yards have been partialy occupied by concrete portal frame barns.
The basic structure and rooves generally fair; with some replacement of the slates by corrugated asbestos at west end. The buildings are now showing their age somewhat, and have had numerous adaptions for modern farming methods. Active settlement at north-east corner is in need of short-term action to stabilise.
There is a need for general overhaul of details such as doors, windows and exposed timberwork; some of which are relatively delapidated.
Decisions will need to be made about the longer term restoration of this highly interesting group of buildings, to conserve their original form whilst allowing effective agricultural utilisation.
The major structural defects are:
The east end of the rear range, where there is active settlement, particularly in the south-east corner of the workshop 2.
Various settlement cracks above and around the large doorways in the rear range barns.
The iron fixing bolts for sliding door runners have commonly rusted, expanded and split the ashlar blocks which they are set in.
The practice of cementing cast iron downpipes within recesses in the walls, in order to minimise risk of damage by vehicles, is common at Godlingston. It has the major disadvantage of aloowing the pipes to rust - many are completely disintergrated - thus permitting water runoff to penetrate the wall fabric.
Similarly, the extensive use of cast iron for door frames and window units, although originally allowing longer life than wooden fittings, now presents a mahor problem; many are broken or rusted solid. Repairs to cast iron are virtually impossible. Obtaining replacement cast rion units will require new moulds to be made, at some expense. However, in the long run this approach must be favoured.

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