Building of the Month September 2024: Granary at Kelly House, Kelly, Lifton, Devon PL16 0HH

In a picturesque rural setting, this beautiful Grade II listed (LEN: 1104814) granary is in poor condition and practically roofless after years of neglect.   The granary is thought to date from the early 18th century and was constructed in brick with a pyramidal roof.  The great charm of traditional granaries is the way they are balanced on straddles, in this case ten brick ones, to raise them off the ground to keep the contents safe from vermin.  The listing entry describes how the straddles have slate caps which support a timber frame on which the granary stands.  On the first floor, there is a dovecot with a gabled dove entrance in the roof on the west side.  Just visible - as a flash of red - is an old post box which has been inserted on one side wall which only serves to increase the charm of this building as an important and functional part of a rural community. Just visible - as a flash of red - is an old post box which has been inserted on one side wall which only serves to increase the charm of this building as an important and functional part of a rural community.

The Granary stands at the entrance driveway to Grade I listed Kelly House which has been on our register for many years as gradual repairs were made to it and it was brought into use as a guest house (see separate entry). Next to the granary are the lovely Grade II* listed stables which are also in very poor condition, with some of the building missing a roof, despite being partially occupied and therefore not on our register.  However, both Kelly House and the stables are on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register.  Nearby a Grade II listed barn (see separate entry) stands in a roofless state.