This ticket is to view these talks online over Zoom. Please buy one ticket per device. The viewing link will be sent out at least 1 hour before the start time. 
To book a ticket to view this talk in person at The Barn, please click here.

We are delighted to welcome local historians and archaeologists, Sally Gallia and Neil Baker to The Barn to share some fascinating insights  into Sir Thomas de Bradeston, who was Lord of the Manor of Winterbourne from 1328 until his death in 1360 and had Winterbourne Medieval Barn built in 1342.

Each talk will be around 45 minutes each, with time for questions. There will be a short break in-between the talks.

Talk 1: Our Very Own Medieval Knight: The Life and Times of Sir Thomas de Bradeston
Sir Thomas de Bradeston, 1st Lord Bradeston, was born in Breadstone in 1290 and rose to prominence in the courts of both Edward II and Edward III. So close did he become to Edward III, reports Smyth, that the King called him his beloved valet, the one who does not cease to stay by our side continuously. 
Knighted by Edward II, riches were poured upon him by Edward III, so much so that there is no reason to think that he was not responsible for the great East Window in Gloucester Cathedral which commemorates the knights who fought, as he himself did, at the Battle of Crecy in 1346. Sir Thomas founded a chantry at Breadstone where his first wife, Isabel, was laid to rest. 
With the demise of Edward II and Sir Thomas’s meteoric rise to royal favour, he moved the family to Winterbourne. However, it is recorded that at the end of his long life, “broken with arms and age” as Smyth writes, he returned to Breadstone and died in 1360. For this reason, although one of the beautiful effigies in Winterbourne Church is probably his, it seems that he was probably buried in Breadstone. The chantry has long since disappeared without trace. The search continues.

Talk 2: The Chantry Chapel of St Michael, Breadstone
In 1344, that Thomas de Bradeston was granted a licence to appoint a warden of the chapel of St. Michael, Bradeston, & 2 other chaplains to “…celebrate divine service daily in the chapel for his good estate, for his soul after his death and for the souls of his late wife Isabella and his ancestors and heirs…” [Calendar of Patent Rolls 1344, EDW III, VOL 6 membrane 22, pp 240].  
Neil will talk a little about the history of the chantry chapel up to the time it was dissolved, and the work being done by BLAG to rediscover it. 

About your speakers:
Sally Gallia
Sal developed a love of history and archaeology while living in Turkey for eighteen years. While there, she made a study of the Anglican cemeteries in Izmir and joined in Oxford University’s Continuing Education Department’s first online course ever. This propitiously resulted in an Advanced Diploma in Local History. 
Returning to the UK to live in Breadstone, Sal became acquainted with Sir Thomas de Bradeston and became intent on discovering more about him and the place where he grew up, especially the whereabouts of the chantry in which he seems likely to have been buried. 
When not imagining life in medieval Breadstone or pretending to be a historian, Sal returns to reality as a forensic odontologist using her knowledge and experience as a dentist with numerous post graduate qualifications including a PhD from the University of Cambridge.

Neil Baker
Neil is a Stroud based archaeologist, and product of Time Team.  Inspired by the tv program, he did a night school O Level in archaeology, then an A Level, and then went back to the University of Bristol, graduating in 2009 with a first-class degree. 
 Neil currently runs the Heavens Archaeological Research Project.  This focuses on the landscape history and archaeology of 102 acres of land to the east of Stroud that has recently been purchased by and for the local community.  
He has also surveyed all the vessels at the Purton Ships' Graveyard which were deliberately beached beside the River Severn near Purton, Gloucestershire, England, to reinforce the riverbank. 

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.

Join celebrated historian, Prof Ronald Hutton for a fascinating lecture on Merlin.

King Arthur's great counsellor and magician, Merlin, is the most famous of all wizards in traditional European literature. Those who have studied his origins know him as a tantalisingly complex character, founded in both native Welsh legend and medieval French romance. His ultimate starting point seems historic; or is it? You are invited this evening to explore both the original sources of the legend and its later development to the present.

About your speaker: Prof Hutton is an English historian who specialises in Early Modern Britain, British folklore, pre-Christian religion and Contemporary Paganism. He is a professor at the University of Bristol, has written 14 books and has appeared on British television and radio. He held a fellowship at Magdalen College, Oxford, and is a Commissioner of English Heritage. We are delighted to welcome him back to The Barn!

Refreshments available. 

Parking for this event will be provided at The Barn.
If you need a specific parking space (eg. wheelchair accessible) or any accessible seating for the performance then please email ceara.foley@winterbournebarn.org.uk ASAP to book this.
Please follow the instructions provided in the pre-event email (sent up to 24 hours before the event) and parking stewards on the day to ensure we can fit as many people as possible safely in the designated parking areas.
Please do not park along church lane as this obstructs the road for other users and emergency vehicles. Please do not park anywhere other than designated Barn car parks for this event. We cannot control when other car parks are locked and may not be able to assist if you car is parked elsewhere.
There is plenty of bicycle parking at The Barn for those arriving on two wheels and space for drop off / collection if you would like to arrange this.

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.

Join our Community Events Coordinator, Ceara, to find out about the turbulent 1400s and what was happening in England, and to the people here, as The Barn was being built.
Hear the fascinating story of how this historic site was almost lost, how and why it was saved, and how it is used today.

Who was Thomas De Bradeston and why did he build Winterbourne Medieval Barn?
How was it built? Why was it so important then and now?
What are the links between The Barn and St. Michael's Church?

Come and find out the answers to these questions and more at this talk about the history of this amazing heritage site: from medieval to modern!
Includes a talk on the history of The Barn (past & present), interesting features pointed out and discussed plus plenty of time for questions with our friendly volunteers.

After the talk and tour of The Barn you will be taken over to the 12th Century St Michael's church next door to see some of the amazing features there and further discuss the links between The Church, The Barn and Sir Thomas.

About your speaker:
Ceara has been a member of the team here at The Barn for 3 years. As a local resident she has grown up loving this beautiful site and had attended many events here before she was in charge of planning them! Since joining as the Community Events Coordinator Ceara has become even more interested in the history of our unique heritage site and, after answering many questions about The Barn from the public, has complied this presentation, with input from many of our longest standing volunteers, to help share it's story.

Refreshments available. Cash and card payment accepted.

Please note parking for this event will be on site at the Barn, BS36 1SE. The car park will be locked once the event has finished so please ensure your car is moved if you will be exploring the local area after your visit to The Barn.

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.