The latest lockdown has meant a bit of a reshuffling for our autumn events. See our listings below for the latest updates to the programme. We’re hoping to run these events as planned keeping in line with the latest government safety guidelines. Keep an eye on our social media pages as we wait to see how events unfold. All existing ticket holders should have been contacted and tickets remain valid for new dates. If you haven’t heard from us, please get in touch with Jasmine on jasmine.loveys@winterbournebarn.org.uk.

See here for full events listings.

Monthly Tea and Tour – Thursday 3rd December, 2pm
First Thursday afternoon of the month. Enjoy a cuppa while your hear about the history of the Barn and medieval rural society. Then have a look around the newly-refurbished West Barn and the rest of the site as well as the Medieval Barn itself. Book online here.

Talk: Magic in Medieval Communities – moved to Tues 8 December, 7pm
Dr Tabitha Stanmore explores the role magic played in medieval people’s everyday lives. This talk is available in person or as an online streamed ticket. For the in person booking link, click here. Or for the online booking link, click here.

Workshop: Christmas Fabric Wreath Making – Sat 5 December, 10am and 2pm
A twist on the traditional wreath, in this workshop create a beautiful fabric wreath for your home. Afternoon workshop added due to popular demand, only a few tickets left!
We very much hope to go ahead with this workshop in person as planned. If lockdown is extended, we will deliver materials to participants and Amy will deliver the workshop over zoom.

Family Fun: Tell Trails presents, A Medieval Christmas – moved to Sat 19 December
Family activities last around 2 hours and cost £5 per family. They are aimed at children aged 5-11 but pre-schoolers are welcome to join in. Covid regulations apply and pre-booking a timed slot is essential. Full details on the Barn website or book directly on ticketsource.

Talk: 180 Years of the Gloucestershire Constabulary – moved to Tues 30th March 2021
Sue Webb, force archivist with Glos police force, looks at the Constabulary in the historic county of Gloucestershire (which used to include South Glos). Booking link for the new date is here.

Tony and Christine Harding

Our volunteer team are the heart and soul of the Barn. Without their passion, dedication, expertise, and experience, we wouldn’t be in the fortunate position we’re in today. As the building phase nears completion, we’ve been speaking to volunteers who have been involved in the project over the years to find out how the Barn has changed, and what it’s been like to volunteer here.

Our first recording is with Tony and Christine Harding who have been involved in the Barn since 2000. They talk about the evolution of the Barn and those early volunteer activities including “scrub bashing”.

We’ll publish more edited interviews over the coming weeks on this Latest News page.

A very Happy New Year from all of us at Winterbourne Medieval Barn.

New floor in the main Barn

2020 is going to be a big year for us as we get ready to open our Barn doors once again later in the year. Our building works are due for completion in the Spring and the site is really starting to take shape.

In the Main Barn a new underfloor heating system has been laid at one end with a new floor going in on top. Aside from a clean up and a few coats of lime wash, not much else has been done in the main part of the Barn.

It’s around the rest of the site that the main striking transformations are taking place. The old cow byres are shaping up to look like wonderful artisanal workspaces. These will be available to rent from the Spring.

Inside the cow byre spaces

External view of the cow byres

Elsewhere, the old dilapidated West Barn is looking very different having been initially gutted and then split into two levels with new seminar rooms, a kitchen, and toilet facilities. New glass doors have been added on the North side to make a light and airy entrance hall.

Inside one room of the West Barn

External view of the West Barn

The interpretation corridor is now weather tight. This space links the Main and West Barn to allow people to travel between both without having the need to go out of doors. It will also contain our interpretation display about the history of the Barn and surrounding area.

Interpretation Corridor

Into the West Barn

When we re-open later this year, we’ll be back with our full programme of events including music, film, and theatre performances. We’ll be a local learning centre with schools able to visit for workshops about life in the past, as well as adult learning opportunities with the continuation of regular craft workshops, and our lecture series. The Barn and seminar rooms will be available to hire for a range of celebration events, conferences, and meetings.

Keep an eye on our social media pages for regular Barn updates. We look forward to welcoming you back at the Barn very soon!

Thanks to Ryan from Corbel Construction for the site photographs.

We’re well into the build now, just over the half way mark and the works are moving at quite the pace!

Inside the main Barn, underfloor heating is starting to go in at one end which should help to take the chill off if you’re watching a performance, and a coat of lime wash has been added to the walls.

The Main Barn

Around the site elsewhere, the West Barn which was dilapidated has been transformed. The upstairs floor has gone in, and partition walls are going up to mark out what will be seminar rooms, a kitchen, and new toilets. Work has also begun on the new interpretation gallery which will link the main Barn to the West Barn so you’ll be able to access both without going outdoors.

Inside the West Barn

The New Interpretation Gallery

The extension to the cow byres is in place, and the roof tiles are now on. The doors are being hung and work is continuing inside to make them artisan workshop spaces.

Cow Byres

Cow Byres