What are these buildings?

In Herefordshire and Worcestershire hops have long been grown for use in the beer brewing industry, and hops are grown still. In the past they were dried in specially designed tall buildings known locally as hop kilns. Many of these charming structures and their adjoining buildings can still be seen with some having been converted into living accommodation. On a recent visit to Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, we came upon two small versions of these hop kilns in a street near the centre of the town. I didn't pay them much attention when we first passed by, being more interested in getting to the building we had specifically come to see. But as we passed them later on I went across to see what they were. To my surprise they were the town's public toilets!

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Hop kilns near Ledbury

What are known as oast houses in Kent are, apparently, called hop kilns in Herefordshire. The photograph above shows two hop kilns (one behind the other in this view) adjoining Kiln Cottage near Frith Wood, Ledbury. The purpose of oast houses/hop kilns was to dry the hops grown for beer-making which are then sent to the brewery. Today this is done in machines and the distinctive buildings that formerly punctuated the landscape in hop growing areas have fallen into disuse or been converted into additional living accomodation. The examples above are now picturesque parts of a cottage that may well have originally been a functional building associated with hops. The spring woodland is showing a variety of subtle colours and the prominent mistletoe ball, above the cottage's gable end, that has been revealed all winter will soon be hidden by leaves.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2