Foulden Tithe Barn

Foulden Tithe Barn

One of only two surviving medieval tithe barns in Scotland, Foulden Tithe Barn stands in a corner of the churchyard, with one side bordering the main road. The building is a simple rectangular structure with stepped gables at both ends.

These are not likely original, and in truth, various architectural embellishments over the centuries make it very difficult to determine when the tithe barn was built. It is almost certainly post-medieval. To the east of the barn, you can see remains of a structure that might have been the original medieval tithe barn.

What to See

The barn is two storeys high, with a full basement and an external stair linking the two storeys. Curiously, the north and south sides of the roof are constructed differently, The north side uses wooden sheeting to support a tile roof while the south side has the tiles fixed to wooden battens.

The mix of architectural styles might be the result of Foulden's proximity to the English border, where different building techniques were used.

The barn is built of rubble, with dressed quoins and a slate roof. Look for the finely carved stones called skewputts on both gables.

The barn was intended to store grain and other foodstuffs given to the parish church by parishioners. The practice of tithing required all parishioners to give the church 10% of their agricultural produce, from crops to animals. The tithe, or teind, was stored in a barn like this.

Unfortunately, only the exterior of the tithe barn can be viewed. Access is easy; the barn is immediately beside the A6105 about four miles south-east of Chirnside.