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In March 2018 Winterbourne Medieval Barn was awarded £936,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for a major refurbishment project that will secure the future of this iconic building for generations to come. The £1.76 million project will conserve and refurbish the historic barn and its adjacent buildings, enabling us to realise the full potential of this iconic building as a true community asset.
Winterbourne Medieval Barn Trust (WMBT) is delighted with the funding provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund, as well as by other major funders including South Gloucestershire Council, The Garfield Weston Foundation, The Architectural Heritage Fund, The Country Houses Foundation and Hobson’s Charitable Trust. Smaller grants have also been received from a further 11 organisations and private donors, and a Crowdfunding campaign in 2017 raised £10,900 towards the project.
Next Steps
Work is now continuing to raise the remaining money needed to ensure the project is fully funded. Anyone interested in donating to the project or joining the volunteering team should contact us by emailing suep@winterbournebarn.org.uk or clicking the Support Us button.
When all the required funding has been raised, building work is planned to start early in 2019, with the redeveloped site expected to open the following year. Activities and events will be run both at the Barn and in the community whilst the building work is taking place, to enable visitors to continue to learn about the history of the barn and its surrounding environment as well as stay in touch with the project’s progress.
Our Vision
Our vision for Winterbourne Medieval Barn is to create a multi-purpose rural heritage venue which will celebrate the history and heritage of this extraordinary site and its environment, making them accessible to people of all ages. Past and present will come together through a range of memorable and diverse experiences and opportunities to participate.
Our Proposal
The project aims to restore the Winterbourne Barn, its two ranges – the South and West Barn – and associated outbuildings, creating new viable uses for the site through:
❖ preserving and providing access to a building of unique historical and architectural significance;
❖ establishing an outstanding visitor experience which captures people’s imagination by reconnecting them with their past through telling stories of the community, its buildings, crafts and traditions;
❖ creating a centre for education and learning about rural crafts helping keep these skills alive;
❖ reinstating its authentic use for “…theatricals, wedding feasts and all manner of rustic festivities” by creating a venue for conferencing, functions and celebrations;
❖ expanding its income-generating potential to secure its long-term future once and for all
Community Benefits
The refurbished Barn will become a focal point of the community, offering a range of activities designed to appeal to everyone. We are proposing to run learning sessions for schools; family-focused history themed events and children’s activity sessions; rural craft workshops; music and theatre performances.
Cart Shed
The Cart Shed has recently been refurbished to create a Reception and Education Centre with the generous support of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
