A hayloft is the loft or grid of beams above the threshing floor and the cattle stalls in a traditional farmhouse, on which hay and harvest were stored. The hayloft rests on the joists between the timber-frame posts and uses the high space in the barn section.
Position and structure
- Above the threshing floor — directly above the threshing area and the stalls
- On the frame beams — the hayloft rests on the cross beams of the timber frame
- Loose floorboards — often loose boards, so hay could drop through to the stalls
- Reached by a ladder — or through the hay hatch in the gable
Function
The hayloft served as dry, airy storage for hay and straw, close to the livestock that fed on it. Because the animals’ warmth rose, the fodder stayed dry. In winter, the hay was brought down from the loft to the feeding trough.
Application
- Hall house and Saxon farmhouse — the hayloft is a fixed part of the working section
- Repurposing — when converted into a home, the hayloft often becomes a mezzanine or extra floor
- Restoration — the original timber frame and hayloft are kept visible where possible
Related terms
- Timber frame
- Hall house
- Threshing floor
- Hoisting hatch
- Joists
- Mezzanine
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