62473 The horse gin, or horse engine house were developed to power threshing machines, and so are always located adjacent or attached to a barn. This type is the overhead form where usually four horses were tethered to the end of long beams above them. At the intersection of these beams was a large wheel on a vertical axle. This in turn drove a drive shaft which passed from the gin house in the barn, and with a belt drive, turned the threshing machine. The gin houses had therefore to be of a circular form, open sided so that the horses were not overcome with heat, but with substantial piers to support the roof and overhead machinery. Since 1987 this horse gin has been cleared out and the interior paved. The eight piers which supported the open sided building can be seen, with the bays between later infilled in stone. None of the timber work which supported the roof or revolving gin now remains. {1}