Historic farm buildings form a part of England's varied rural landscape, but 20th-century changes in the methods of agricultural production have led to many entire farmsteads becoming redundant. As the pace of this process has quickened, it has been realized that these buildings preserve evidence which is vital to the history of farming and rural life. This study, based on recording work by the Royal Commission, examines farmsteads in five contrasting areas of England and places them in a national context. The survey highlights the regional diversity which characterized English farming, demonstrating that local methods of agricultural production were key factors in determining the nature of farmsteads. The varied building types are discussed and drawings illustrate how each functioned in relation to the farmstead as a whole.