Robertson Swing Beam Threshing Barn

34 X 48 feet | Circa 1800 | Argyle, NY

This remarkable structure measures 34 feet by 48 feet. It is a five bent structure. The posts are hewn out of oak while the long beams are pine. It is a classic, but very large, English Barn. This structure had a threshing bay in the center, with large eave doors that allowed wind to blow through during the threshing of wheat. Another bay was for the storage of loose hay. The final bay housed animals and had a granary room in one corner. The Robertson Barn has a remarkable clear span bent. This means that there is no interior post, and the beams span the full 34 foot width. The giant beam that makes this possible is 10 inches wide and nearly 17 inches tall in the middle. A beam of this size and vintage is a rare find these days! In barns with this special feature, the large carrying beam is often referred to as a “swing beam” or a “bull beam.” The swing beam is tapered on the ends, with the bottom edge straight and the top edge bellied up. There are four pristine beams that measure over 48 feet in length.

William Robertson, descended from the family that ruled Scotland for centuries, settled on this farmstead around 1775. William's ancestry has been traced back to Duncan I, king of Scotland from 1033-1040. William had been orphaned at a young age, and he traveled to America with a bachelor uncle at age 20. He fought in the American Revolution. William's descendents farmed in this barn for five generations. I was told the tragic tale of the original house on the farmstead burning down around 1960. It was winter and the firetrucks could not make it up the road through a snowstorm. In a last ditch effort, a local farmer pulled the trucks through the snow with his tractor, but it was sadly too late. The family did not rebuild, and the barns were largely abandoned. Thankfully, the barns will get a second life elsewhere once we restore and then re-erect them. It is an incredible honor to be involved in saving this museum quality New England Barn.

Details:

1,650 square feet of footprint, with the potential for a loft
Hand hewn oak posts and ties
Hand hewn 48 foot top plates and queen plates
Hand hewn rafters
Beautiful original roof boards
We will provide the restored frame, erected on your foundation, with the roof boards installed

Possibilities:

This frame would make an astounding barn home. It could also be used as an event space or make a wonderful gallery or studio. We were so excited to find this barn, and to be involved in saving it!

Robertson Swing Beam The barn stood tall and strong even after being abandoned for years.	Robertson Swing Beam This barn feels cathedral-like in its spacious upper interior.	Robertson Swing Beam The oak and pine rafters on this impressive frame are hand hewn on four sides.
I love the geometry of all the braces in this structure.	The swing beam is connected to a second timber with a gorgeously chamfered short post.	This is the swing beam bent once removed from the barn.
Robertson Swing Beam The roof boards are wide and beautiful. Each was labeled during the take-down, and will be washed and put back in the same location after the frame is re-erected.	Robertson Swing Beam This barn has very large large timbers! This is the swing beam bent.	Robertson Swing Beam There is a wooden ladder built into this bent where loose hay was piled up.
Robertson Swing Beam The hewing on the beams is beautiful.	Robertson Swing Beam This corner is a good example of the mortise and tenon joinery throughout the barn.	Robertson Swing Beam It is rare to find rafters that are hewn on all four sides.
Robertson Swing Beam This incredible board came from the wall of the granary room.	Robertson Swing Beam This barn was built for a light wooden roof, but carried these many tons of slate later in its life. It is amazing that it held up so well to all the weight!	Robertson Swing Beam There are some wonderful design details with this frame. Note how the siding boards were tucked into a groove in the top plate.
Drawings and Dimensions For more drawings click on the image and then 'Go to link'.