An intriguing medieval site

Winterbourne Medieval Barn is a building of national importance. Built in 1342, just a few years before the Black Death swept across England, the barn is an extraordinary survivor of our medieval past. It was commissioned by Thomas de Bradeston, who was Lord of the Manor of Winterbourne from 1328 until his death in 1360.

Major building works have recently been completed with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and many other generous funders and donors to revitalise the whole Barn complex into a community heritage site promoting the knowledge of medieval history, its architecture, agricultural landscape and people.

What happens at the Barn

As a multi-purpose venue we host a range of activities for the local community including family activities, music and theatre performances, craft workshops, a monthly lecture series, and our flagship events the Medieval Fayre and Orchard Harvest Days.

The Barn makes a unique and beautiful setting for a magical wedding day and is available for hire all year round. The Barn and seminar rooms can also be hired for celebration events, film shoots, and meetings. Get in touch to find out more.

Next Events

Click here to go to our full event listing page.

Talk: Death and Dying in Medieval England

Date: 10th October 2024
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Winterbourne Medieval Barn
Death in Medieval England talk image

For our medieval ancestors, death was a normal part of everyday life. In this talk historian Dr Helen Frisby, author of the Shire book Traditions of Death and Burial, will draw upon a wide range of artistic, liturgical, material culture and antiquarian evidence in order to explore the fascinating œconomia of relationships between the living and the dead which developed in England during the period between approx. 500 and 1500AD.

Some of our medieval forebears’ ways of making sense of mortality might seem strange, even somewhat unsettling, to our own modern sensibilities. Yet, in there are also some threads of continuity which bind us together with the past, some of these leading right down into the present day and on into the future of death, dying and funerals. In unpacking and tracing these threads over the centuries, we’ll get right to the heart of why funerals really matter at all – an important question for any place or time.

We are always honoured when The Barn is chosen as a venue for a celebration of life / funeral and this talk will no doubt draw some really interesting parallels between the medieval and modern traditions for this important rite of passage.

About your speaker:
Helen has taught history at the University of the West of England, Bristol, and funeral directing at the University of Bath where she’s also a Visiting Research Fellow. Helen is a Council Member and Trustee of The Folklore Society. She’s appeared on BBC and ABC radio and on The History Channel, and continues to research, speak and publish on topics relating to death, funerals and bereavement past, present and future.

Refreshments available on arrival. Cash and card payments accepted.

Free parking on site. Parking for this event will be at the Barn, BS36 1SE.

The primary purpose of this event is to raise money for WMBT and to support conservation, management, maintenance and improvement of the WMBT site.

If you wish to avoid the online booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person.

ZOOM TALK: Death and Dying in Medieval England

Date: 10th October 2024
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Online
Death in Medieval England talk image

This ticket is to view the talk online over Zoom. Please buy one ticket per device. The viewing link will be sent out at least 1 hour before the start time. 

For our medieval ancestors, death was a normal part of everyday life. In this talk historian Dr Helen Frisby, author of the Shire book Traditions of Death and Burial, will draw upon a wide range of artistic, liturgical, material culture and antiquarian evidence in order to explore the fascinating œconomia of relationships between the living and the dead which developed in England during the period between approx. 500 and 1500AD.

Some of our medieval forebears’ ways of making sense of mortality might seem strange, even somewhat unsettling, to our own modern sensibilities. Yet, in there are also some threads of continuity which bind us together with the past, some of these leading right down into the present day and on into the future of death, dying and funerals. In unpacking and tracing these threads over the centuries, we’ll get right to the heart of why funerals really matter at all – an important question for any place or time.

We are always honoured when The Barn is chosen as a venue for a celebration of life / funeral and this talk will no doubt draw some really interesting parallels between the medieval and modern traditions for this important rite of passage.

About your speaker:
Helen has taught history at the University of the West of England, Bristol, and funeral directing at the University of Bath where she’s also a Visiting Research Fellow. Helen is a Council Member and Trustee of The Folklore Society. She’s appeared on BBC and ABC radio and on The History Channel, and continues to research, speak and publish on topics relating to death, funerals and bereavement past, present and future.

The primary purpose of this event is to raise money for WMBT and to support conservation, management, maintenance and improvement of the WMBT site.

If you wish to avoid the online booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person.

Weddings

We’re now taking enquiries and bookings for wedding celebrations. The Barn and grounds make a spectacular backdrop for a special occasion. At Winterbourne Medieval Barn you have the flexibility to create an event that is as unique as you are. Check out our weddings page for more information.