Historical thatched barn destroyed by fire on 31 May 1974. Note the Ford Escort Police car in the picture! Below is a report from the Cambridge Evening News on Saturday, June 1, 1974
Medieval barn destroyed in fire.
Children are believed to have accidentally started a fire which totally destroyed a medieval tithe barn, built in 1496, at Foxton yesterday. The barn, at Herods Farm was described by the Foxton historian, Mr Rowland Parker as a historical landmark and beyond value. The blaze also destroyed hundreds of pounds worth of straw and equipment and two outbuildings.
A spokesman for Cambridgeshire Police said it was understood children had started a small fire nearby. This had accidentally spread to the barn. No action is to be taken against anyone.
Firemen from Sawston and Cambridge had the fire under control within 10 minutes, but were too late to save the thatched barn. They stopped the fire spreading to an adjoining building containing a combine harvester.
The farm is rented by Mr George Smith of 24 Barrington Road, Foxton, and Mr R.J. Gadd of Hill Farm, Foxton. They said the barn contained straw worth about £150, sleepers, gates and hand tools. None of these items were saved.
Mr Parker, who has written a book about Foxton and his own home there, The Cottage on the Green, said yesterday: “It is a great tragedy. This barn was one of the village’s historical landmarks. It cannot be valued.” He said it was built by a man called John Thirlow in 1496, on the site of an earlier barn. It was one of three of similar age in the village. One was demolished because it was unsafe last year, and the remaining barn has been given a corrugated roof.