Coppings Oast

This oast is situated in an isolated collection of farm buildings on the northern extremity of the parish. It holds a dominant position at the head of the long drive leading to the farm, but from inside the farm complex it clearly takes second place to the farmhouse. Indeed it was always thus.

In 1936, the Nizels Estate sold Coppings Farm to Sydney Bernstein, of Granada Cinema and TV fame. Whilst living in the farmhouse itself, he converted the Oast into a habitable dwelling in the 1950s and extended the barn to provide more accommodation in the late 1960s. In 1969 he was awarded a baronetcy and chose the title Baron Bernstein of Leigh. With Lord Bernstein's business interests expanding in the showbiz world, the Oast took on a new role as guest accommodation for the rich and famous - its ‘visitors book’ is known to include such names as Charlie Chaplin (who stayed here with his wife), Orson Wells, Charles Laughton, Lauren Bacall, Noel Coward and Ingmar Bergman.

The date of the oast is unknown, but its architecture follows the style of many of the other Leigh oasts - two roundels, one slightly taller and narrower than the other suggesting that it was built later in response to the demand for more capacity, both using Flemish Bond with angled dentelles. This is borne out by one roundel being shown on the 1870 OS. map and two on the 1908 version. Abundant fenestration was added to the barn on conversion together with shiplap cladding offering a very white but attractive front elevation.

Lord Bernstein sold the farm in its entirety in 1988 and subsequent owners have lived in the farmhouse using the oast either for rental income or office accommodation in relation to their business activities.