Stank Hall Barn.

Stank Hall Barn, Beeston. This grade II* listed building is a scheduled Ancient Monument, and is one of the most important vernacular buildings in the Leeds district.

It's said to date from 1420 with a phase of rebuilding in 1492 (allegedly using some of the timber left over from the construction of the Santa Maria, Niña and Pinta for Christopher Columbus!).

The stone building attached to the barn on the left is said to have been used as a chapel by Major Joshua Greathead (1616-1684) who fought in Cromwell's army at the battle of Adwalton Moor in 1644. At the time Stank Hall Farm belonged to the Royalist John Hodgson.

The barn is made of a timber frame resting on a stone sill (to stop the posts rotting) and was covered in thackstones - medieval roof tiles. It was originally clad in wattle and daub which was later replaced with stone. The size of the barn reflects the fact that grain needed to be stored on a large scale in medieval times and was typically held in these protected barns away from the weather and pests. On the same site there are two houses which are also listed as grade II and all the buildings were in use until the 1960s. The barn has the higher protection because of its rarity and earlier date.