A CAMPAIGN has been launched to have an old tithe barn declared a listed building.

Bernard Borman, of Leyburn, North Yorkshire, has asked English Heritage to list the building, which he believes is Georgian.

The structure is near The Shawl, a terrace of land on the western edge of the town, and features castellated Dutch-style gables, a stone-tiled roof and two rooms with oak timbers.

Mr Borman said: "It is a beautiful building and it should be identified and protected.

"It is near the site of the foundations of the priory chapel and other historic buildings, which are an important part of our local history. Leyburn goes back to the Domesday Book and has a rich and interesting history."

The barn is used for agricultural storage on a tenanted farm.

Mr Borman, who has also contacted Richmondshire District Council about conserving the barn, said he had been approached by several residents eager to save it from falling into disrepair.

He said: "The building is far superior to the average barn because of its charming and pleasing design and may date back to the period of George III."

Listing is a legal procedure to help English Heritage to protect buildings. All buildings before 1700 are listed if they remain mainly in original condition and many buildings constructed between 1700 and 1840 also qualify for the status.

An English Heritage spokesman said all applications for listing were measured against criteria which included architectural interest and historical importance.

He said: "The older and rarer a building is, the more likely it is to be listed."