Oasts come in all shapes and sizes, but mostly as single or multiple square or roundel kilns (but sometimes a mixed layout around a central stowage floor that has been added to over time). These two conversions are of the late-Victorian / early 20th-century type, both in brick with large single square kilns, clay tiles on the roofs and the ubiquitous white cowls.
Last edited by rpadam; 02-04-2020 at 19:37.
I remember as a kid we'd always holiday in Herefordshire and all the oasts were square. Many years later, I had a girlfriend from Kent and we'd go and stay with her mother and she pointed out all the oasts which down there all seem to be round - largely converted to residential use, she told me that occupants had problems fitting them out as furniture isn't curved.
In the mid-19th century, when many Kent oasts were built, there was a theory (largely later debunked) that round kilns were better because you got even drying all around rather than having cooler spots in the corners, so the trend reverted back to square... and these were indeed cheaper to construct too.
Most of the old oasts by us are round,the newer ones square, and the working ones not really recognisable.On our Boris walk today , we passed a ruinous 3 roundel oast, the kilns of brick, while the barn/cooling floor section was, (or the walls upto first floor level), built of beautifully worked sandstone. Such a shame.
"At that moment I would have given a kingdom, not for champagne or hock and soda, or hot coffee but for a glass of beer" Marquess Curzon of Kedlestone, Viceroy of India.
This is off-topic I know, but I came across a curved bench in this pub the other week (sorry, no photos).
Come On You Hatters!
Here are two unusual buildings, or the remains of one in the first instance, which was once a tin shed with a stove that was used for heating pitch, tar or whatever black borderline carcinogen they could get hold of to dip the end of hop poles, etc. into to act as a preservative treatment. The second is much more recent, and appears to be used by seasonal fruit pickers for rest, recreation and no doubt various forms of inebriation / intoxication after the end of each week's hard work.