The 4,000 field barns in England’s Yorkshire Dales National Park are an important feature of the landscape. Due to changes in agricultural practice, most are derelict and field barns are at risk of widespread loss. The Field Barn Project prototyped an innovative solution for their re-use to provide holiday or work accommodation and a source of income for the rural economy. A field barn was repaired and a lightweight timber ‘pod’ constructed inside. The ‘pod’ is built from low-tech materials, generating employment and training opportunities in construction and conservative repair at a local level. Water and power supplies were mounted on an agricultural trailer and ‘plugged in’ to the barn. Interventions are entirely reversible and designed to minimize impact on both barns and the landscape.

Miriam Kelly was part of a small team to develop and build the Field Barn prototype. The initiative was supported by English Heritage, the Prince’s Regeneration Trust and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, and was awarded a £15,000 grant from the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust Fund under the Sustainable Development Fund Programme. The design of the eco-pod is in line with best building conservation practice, is 100% reversible and (almost!) carbon neutral.