Query regarding Form B.2 on census

[righthererightnow]

Hi everyone,

Form B.2. on the 1901 census is the "Return of Out-Offices and Farm-Steadings".

The list of buildings on each Form B.2. includes "barn", "shed" and "store".

Presumably there were specific definitions of the terms "barn", "shed" and "store" by 1901, so that the census enumerators knew what to record on each Form B.2.

Has anybody any idea as to where I should look in order to find those definitions?

I have an idea myself as to what might distinguish a barn from a shed and a shed from a store etc. but I'm hoping to find the exact definitions that the census enumerators had to follow in 1901.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards,

Michael

[dathai]

A little bit more info
https://www.irish-genealogy-toolkit.com/census-forms.html

[Maiden Stone]

Dictionary definition of barn - covered building for storing grain, etc.
1901 Census: "The Enumerator will return on this Form all Out-offices intended for Domestic or Agricultural purposes …. "
There were 22 columns on Form B 2 on 1901 census They were headed "Stable; Coach House; Harness Room; Cow House; Calf House; Dairy; Piggery; Fowl House, Boiling House; Barn; Turf House; Potato House; Workshop; Shed; Store; Forge; Laundry; Other Out-offices (5 columns)"
All had specific purposes except "Shed" and "Store" and "Other Out-Offices". Uses of sheds and stores varies.
Dictionary definition of shed: "A roofed shelter for storing things or keeping cattle in or used as workshop, & ranging from a roof on uprights to a completely walled building." ["The Pocket Oxford Dictionary"]

[Wexflyer]

My guess is that you are overthinking this. I doubt one in a hundred enumerators gave a fig for "exact" definitions. They would have gone with their own understanding.

[Maiden Stone]

I agree with Wexflyer.
Sheds and stores are non-specific structures. They have miscellaneous uses. If they had a particular use they would have been classed under that use.
The other farm buildings would have been built or fitted out for a purpose, e.g. low wall at front of piggery, a hay rack in a stable, perches in a fowl house.
A traditional barn is a large building with door wide and tall enough to admit a fully-laden hay-cart. There are also pole-barns which are open at 1 or more sides.
When the census enumerator visited a property, uses of most out-buildings would have been obvious and easily classifiable. Any that weren't would have gone in a "Shed", "Store" or "Other out-offices" column. Census enumerators were often local police constables so they may have been familiar with the properties.

[Maiden Stone]

Slightly off-topic but may be of interest. Robert E. Matheson , Registrar General in 1901 wrote "Housing of the People of Ireland During the Period 1841-1901", published Dublin 1903. Available on The Internet Archive https://archive.org

[Wexflyer]

Census enumerators were often local police constables so they may have been familiar with the properties.

I agree with MS. But want to add that that the enumerators were *always* part of the local occupation forces, not "often". The RIC are believed to have frequently kept notes/files/registers on local people using info gleaned from the census forms. Was probably illegal, but they did it anyway. Such local files were all destroyed in 1922, upon disbandment.

[Maiden Stone]

I've looked at Form B.2 for my families. Annoyingly in 1901 there is a missing page for one and another one, which should have been last on a page, has been missed. Form B.1 tells me that they had 6 and 2 outbuildings respectively.
Another family appears to have only a piggery in 1901 while their neighbour and relative had stable, cow-house, piggery and barn. The situation was reversed in 1911.
Nobody seemed to have a turf-house.

[righthererightnow]

Many thanks for all the replies.
Apologies for not taking the time to thank each of you individually.
I'm glad I asked the question and glad of the informative responses.
I suppose it would have been nigh impossible for the census enumerators to make accurate returns where the users of the out-offices and farm-steadings were liable to use the structures as they pleased and to change their use from time to time.
Regards