A hay barn or hay rick is an agricultural structure in which hay, grain or other harvest was kept dry. Characteristic of the classic rick is the loose, height-adjustable roof that can move up and down over a number of straight standing poles (staves): as the stock grew, the roof was raised. This way the harvest always stayed covered and ventilated.
Structure
- Staves (rick poles) — the heavy standing poles along which the roof moves
- Adjustable roof — a cap (often four- or five-sided, with thatch or tiles) fixed at various heights with pins
- Open or half-open sides — for ventilation, so that the hay does not overheat
The hay barn is a more enclosed variant, sometimes with fixed walls and roof, whereas the hay rick has the movable roof as its main feature.
Application and preservation
These structures belong to the traditional farmyard and are now mainly of cultural-historical value. Many ricks are landscape-defining and enjoy protection as a monument or characteristic outbuilding. In restoration, the movable roof mechanism, the staves and the open structure are the parts to preserve.
Related terms
- Farmhouse
- Hay rick
- Outbuilding
- Cultural-historical value
- Monument
- Timber frame
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