Barn layout is influenced both by needs, and heritage of the builder. In my area, Western Mass., there are a lot of English three bay barns. There are doors in the middle of both walls on the eave sides, this is the threshing bay. The threshing bay is situated to take advantage of crosswinds. On one side of the threshing bay the grains, still on the stalk, are stored, along with loose hay. The other bay would often have stalls for horses and cows. Just over the line in NY, Dutch barns are prevalent. Dutch barns are noted for long aisles that run with the ridge of the barn, with roofs that run down close to the ground, forming long "sheds" along the eave walls of the barn. I have books by Endersby, Greenwood, and Larkin that show many different styles of barns, as well as books by Eric Sloane.


Dave