Join local glass artist, Rachael Durkan from The Glass Cabin at 10am or 1pm for one of her popular fused glass workshops where you can make your own unique and beautiful item for yourself or as a gift.
Choose between “miniatures” or “panel”. Both options are available at both the morning and afternoon workshops, but we must know your selection in advance.
Miniatures – the chance to select up to 3 “miniatures” to create your very own collection of fused glass. Some of the shapes available include birds, hearts, fish, rainbows and mini balloons.
Panel – you have the option of making a larger Bristol balloon, flower panel or freestyle hanging.
Suitable for complete beginners as well as those who’ve caught the fused glass bug!
You will have 2 hours to create your masterpiece, using a variety of pre-cut glass and glass accessories in an array of beautiful colours. There will be plenty of templates to choose from or you can create your own design. Rachael will have lots of ideas to inspire you and is on hand with design advice throughout the workshop.
PLEASE NOTE – Rachael will take your finished piece away to be fused in her kiln. It will be available for collection from the barn or Rachael directly a couple of weeks after the workshop.
This workshop is suitable for age 16+ (under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult)
For safety reasons, please do not wear open toe shoes such as sandals or flip flops. Also a little reminder for people who wear glasses…. due to close up work, you may wish to bring along your spectacles!
Parking for this event is free and at the Barn, BS36 1SE.
Tea & coffee will be provided during the introduction and is included in your ticket price. Due to the nature of working with glass refreshments will not be permitted during the actual workshop.
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.
We are delighted to be taking part in the Heritage Open Days Festival for our 20th year!
This event marks the anniversary of the first ever event to be put on at our site and we are so proud of how much we have achieved since then…and to still be taking part in this nationwide festival.
Come on in to find out the history of this beautiful barn and admire original medieval timbers. Hear the story of how it was all almost lost in the 1980s, then saved by local supporters in the 1990s and how it is used today!
Winterbourne Medieval Barn, built in 1342, is a unique surviving example of a great medieval Barn built by a gentry family. Constructed using green timber methods, cutting edge technology for the time, it has been described as a magnificent example of the builders craft. Come and look around this beautiful building, set in rural South Gloucestershire, just outside Bristol.
The Main Barn will be open for you to look around at your leisure with some of our volunteer tour guides on hand to answer any questions you have about our beautiful site.
Our pop up café will also be open serving a small selection of drinks and snacks. Cash and card payments are accepted,
Why not combine your visit with a trip to St Michael’s Church next door? Check their listing for times. We’re also located next to Monks Pool Nature Reserve which makes the Barn an ideal starting point for exploring the local landscape.
We will be open from 1pm – 5pm. Please arrive at any time within this time slot and stay for as long, or little as you like.
Booking in advance is helpful for us to manage numbers, but drop ins on the day are also very welcome.
Look out for the brown signs on Winterbourne High Street to direct you to The Barn and follow the pink bunting to the entrance!
Limited car parking is available onsite. We have plenty of cycle parking for those travelling by bike. The Barn is a short ten minute walk from Winterbourne High Street.
Please note parking for this event will be on site at the Barn, BS36 1SE.
We are delighted to welcome back Chris Bigg to The Barn for another fascinating talk. By popular demand after his last talk on the history of aircraft production in Filton, he will be focusing this talk on Concorde.
This talk will cover the full story of the project from inception in 1962 to last flight in 2003. Chris will give an insight into how and why the iconic Concorde was conceived, the extreme challenges in the design, research test ,development activities.
Other aircraft involved in the test program including Bristol 188, B.A.C. 221 and Avro Vulcan will be featured.
Areas covered include roll out, first flight, route proving and entry into service. The Paris crash and premature retirement will also be included. Finally a brief look into the future of supersonic transport will be discussed.
The path to supersonic passenger flight was long and bumpy with threats of cancellation and opposition throughout Concorde’s career but it remains a pinacol of engineering excellence and has not been equalled or surpassed.
About your speaker:
Chris Bigg is a retired Manufacturing Engineer and worked at the Filton site for over 50 years where he was fortunate to fly Concorde and witnessed the first and last flight (1969 & 2003). He is currently a volunteer at the Bristol Aerospace museum.
Refreshments available on arrival and during interval. 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 booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person at The Barn.
We welcome Tim from Orchard Revival and David from Bushel+Peck to guide us through the aromas and flavours of a range of cider and perry in this informative but fun workshop.
With many years experience in managing their own orchards and producing their own products (and teaching!) our expert hosts will be able to tell you all about the ciders you are tasting and will welcome any questions; it is guaranteed to be a merry evening!
Tim and David will have a small amount of their cider and perry to sell on the evening should you wish to purchase any. Cash and card payments are accepted and a percentage of these sales is kindly being donated back to The Barn.
Strictly over 18s only. Please drink responsibly.
Parking for this event is at the Barn, BS36 1SE. There is plenty of bicycle parking available for those arriving on two wheels as well as space for drop off / pick up if you prefer to arrange this.
For those who will be drinking there are plenty of taxi firms serving the area and limited buses to Winterbourne.
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 booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person at The Barn.
We are very excited to welcome Sisters of Swing to The Barn for a fantastic evening of live music with a 20+ piece swing band!
The Sisters of Swing is an all-female big band which has been in existence for 13 years. During that time the band has built up a solid following and is always in demand for performances in Bristol and the surrounding areas.
They have a varied repertoire consisting of vocal and instrumental big band and swing classics, together with a sprinkling of more modern tunes which are guaranteed to get your toes tapping.
If you would like a sneak peak of some of Sisters of Swing’s signature style please visit:
Website: https://sistersofswing.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SistersofSwing/
Links to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5gQC5Iuwq8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzV-Ey9xno0
Parking is free and will be at The Barn (BS36 1SE). Space is limited so please follow the instructions from our parking stewards on arrival.
There is plenty of bicycle parking and space for drop off / pick ups at The Barn if you are able to arrange this.
Please do not park along church lane as this obstructs the road for other users and emergency vehicles.
We have toilets on site, including a fully accessible toilet and baby changing facilities.
The Barn Bar will also be open serving a small selection of drinks and snacks. Cash and card payments are accepted.
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.
Our annual Orchard Harvest Day is back!
Visit the amazing Winterbourne Medieval Barn for a fun day out for all the family.
Celebrate the Great British Orchard and visit the amazing Winterbourne Medieval Barn for a fun day out for all the family.
Enjoy entertainment from Terry Moules ferret-racing, 5678 School of Dance, Winterbourne Down Border Morris Dancers, Same Same but Different Puppeteers and live music from Bygonz wandering minstrels.
New for 2024!
Live music from Piratitude – Bristol’s best (or at least silliest) Pirate-themed raucous singalong folk-rock and sea shanty band. Fresh from Glastonbury Festival! Take a sneak peak here: https://www.piratitude.com/home and on their Facebook page.
We’ll have a variety of artisan crafts traders and stalls as well as high quality food and drink all day.
For our younger visitors there will be competitions, face painting and a pocket money stall.
St Michael’s Church (next door) will also be open for visitors.
Pre book tickets now! £5 adults, £1 children. A great day out with something for all ages!
Well behaved dogs on a lead are welcome. Dogs remain the responsibility of the owner within the grounds of the Barn. There is plenty of bicycle parking on site for those arriving on two wheels.
Please note there is no car parking onsite or in Church Lane for this event (with the exception of blue badge holders, contact us to reserve a space if needed). We’ll be operating a free park and ride from Winterbourne Academy (BS36 1JL) with a shuttle bus to and from the Barn site throughout the day. Both the car park and the shuttle bus are free! Just park up and see our steward for the next bus.
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.
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.
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.
We are delighted to welcome back Chris Green from GreenMatthews. This time Chris will provide his solo live music accompaniment to the cult horror film, Nosferatu which will be played during a showing of the film in our atmospheric main barn.
Nosferatu (1922) is arguably the film that gave birth to the horror genre. Notable as the first cinematic interpretation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, its combination of expressionistic acting and unforgettable images render it just as powerful and unsettling today as when it first thrilled cinema goers 100 years ago.
Chris Green’s new score was commissioned by English Heritage for a live outdoor screening of the film at Dracula’s spiritual home of Whitby Abbey. The music is a haunting blend of electronic and acoustic instruments performed by the composer and combined with FW Murnau’s iconic images makes for a genuinely remarkable and unique cinematic experience.
Please note this is a Park and Stride event. Parking will be at Winterbourne Academy, BS36 1JL. The Barn is approximately a 10 minute walk from the Academy’ car park. The most lit up route will be via Beacon Lane. Please take care along the country roads to The Barn and be sure to bring a torch!
Please do not park along church lane as this obstructs the road for other users and emergency vehicles.
Parking at The Barn will be reserved for accessibility parking requirements and must be pre-booked. If you need to book an accessible space then please email ceara.foley@winterbournebarn.org.uk and advise your vehicle registration, if you need a wheelchair accessible parking space and if you need any accessible seating for the performance.
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 booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person at The Barn.
Join Brenda from The Pottery Shed in this afternoon taster workshop where you’ll create your own masterpiece in a relaxed atmosphere with professional help and guidance.
During the afternoon, you’ll try hand building techniques (no wheel work) where you’ll come away with a 15cm in diameter and about 8cm
in height. You’ll then add a glaze to the outside of the pot and ‘Sgraffito’ into the glaze, adding a pattern of your choice.
Your pots will then be kept to be fired and you will be contacted a few weeks later to advise when they are ready to collect from the main barn.
Brenda is very generously donating all proceeds from this workshop to Winterbourne Medieval Barn for which we are very grateful.
To find out more about Brenda, please see The Pottery Shed website.
Please note 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 booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person at The Barn.
Join Deon from The Pottery Shed in this afternoon taster workshop where you’ll create your own masterpiece in a relaxed atmosphere with professional help and guidance.
During the afternoon you’ll have 3 balls of clay to work with to make your own pot on the wheel. The pots will be worked once dry and Deon will then glaze them.
Your pots will then be kept to be fired and you will be contacted a few weeks later to advise when they are ready to collect from the main barn.
Deon is very generously donating all proceeds from this workshop to Winterbourne Medieval Barn for which we are very grateful.
To find out more about Deon, please see The Pottery Shed website.
Please note 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 booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person at The Barn.
Join Sarah, the florist from our onsite florist, The Petal Emporium for a lovely creative workshop making a seasonal floral arrangement to fit inside it’s very own pumpkin!
Get creative in making your own floral pumpkin to decorate your home with touches of Autumn and Halloween. The Petal Emporium will take you step by step through the process of arranging your florals into stunning designs. Using foam free mechanics and the finest fresh seasonal blooms and greens you will create a beautiful floral arrangement within a pumpkin.
A perfect evening of learning, you’ll adopt skills you can take onwards into further flower arranging.
This workshop is perfectly suited to complete flower arranging beginners as well as floral enthusiasts looking for a chance to get creative.
All materials are provided along with tea & coffee and a glass of prosecco on arrival.
This 2 hour workshop will be held in the stunning surroundings of the main barn so that there is plenty of space to get creative, access materials and receive any assistance needed from Sarah…as well as adding some Halloween atmosphere to your evening! Just remember to wrap up warm.
Suitable for ages 16+
Free parking on site. Parking for this event will be at the Barn, BS36 1SE.
Tea & coffee included in your ticket and served throughout the workshop.
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 booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person at The Barn.
Ian Redfearn returns to guide us through the aromas and flavours of a range of festive wines from Italy, to include some robust whites and reds as well as a sparkler(!) in this informative but fun workshop.
With 25 years experience in the wine trade, Ian makes the ideal host for the evening. He will give some background information on each wine’s individual appearance, aroma and flavour, and he will welcome questions and comments. Guaranteed to be a merry evening!
Ian will have a small amount of the wines sampled to sell by the bottle on the evening should you wish to purchase any. Cash and card payments are accepted and a percentage of these sales is kindly being donated back to The Barn.
Strictly over 18s only. Please drink responsibly.
Parking for this event is at the Barn, BS36 1SE. There is plenty of bicycle parking available for those arriving on two wheels as well as space for drop off / pick up if you prefer to arrange this.
For those who will be drinking there are plenty of taxi firms serving the area and limited buses to Winterbourne.
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 booking fee then please contact the office to arrange a time to come and book in person at The Barn.
