Building Name (Common)

Chittenden Barn 1

Building Name (Historic)

Chittenden Barn 1 - Abel Chittenden

Address

1 Broad Street
Guilford

Typology

• Carriage House
• English

 

Designations

• National Register
• Local Historic District

Historic Significance

Architectural description:

This is a 2-1/2 story carriage house barn with elaborate Gothic Revival decoration and a cross-gable roof, with its long ridge running east-west. The barn is at grade on a low foundation, set on mostly level ground. The main façade faces north with a centered front gable and exterior sliding batten doors with a hooded track. On either side of the main entry is a double-hung window. All visible windows on the entire barn have a diamond shaped pane pattern with trim. Directly over the main entry are two semicircular side-hinged diagonal flush board hayloft level doors with wrought iron hardware. Over each of the two windows is a circular window. Centered over the doors of the main gable attic is a diamond shaped window. The east gable-end has a double-hung rectangular window between the center and the southern edge. Centered in the attic is a rectangular window. The southern eave-side of the barn has a pair of centered swinging hinged doors with wrought iron hardware. The east half of the southern eave-side of the barn has a pair of swinging hinged doors. The west half has a double-hung rectangular window. Over the central door is a side-hinged diagonal flush board hayloft door with wrought iron hardware. The west gable-end appears to have a double-hung window on the main level and a double-hung window in the gable attic.

The walls are board-and-batten siding and painted yellow. The second story hayloft is hung on iron trusses. The roof has boxed projecting eaves supported by several symmetrically spaced and elaborately jig-sawn decorative brackets. The roof is covered by asphalt shingles.

Historical significance:

Until the 1830s, the horses used for riding and driving carriages were often kept in the main barn along with the other farm animals. By the 1850s, some New England farmers built separate horse stables and carriage houses. Early carriage houses (barns) were built just to shelter a carriage and perhaps a sleigh, but no horses. The pre-cursor to the twentieth-century garage, these outbuildings are distinguished by their large hinged doors, few windows, and proximity to the dooryard. The combined horse stable and carriage house continued to be a common farm building through the second half of the nineteenth century and the first decade of the twentieth century, until automobiles became common. Elaborate carriage houses were also associated with gentlemen farms and country estates of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Another form of carriage barn, the urban livery stable, served the needs of trades people.

Historical background:

This barn is in the Guilford Historic Town Center National Register Historic District, and may be a contributing property. However, the incomplete on-line nomination did not mention the barn.

The barn was part of the Abel Chittenden family estate of Cranbrook. Its style was similar to a style advocated by A. J. Downing.

Field Notes

- Board and batten, cottage ornate barn with cross gable roof

- Interior altered, possibly once divided into several discrete spaces

- Second story hayloft hung on iron trusses

- Rear side door has hayloft door above

- Barn at grade on low foundation

Part of Abel Chittenden family estate, "Cranbrook."

Yellow Gothic Revival Barn with Central Gable and Board-and Batten Siding

Suggested Style of A.J. Downing

Built in 1850s

Located in Guilford Town Center Historic District, and appears to be a contributing resource within the district.