Winterbourne Medieval Barn event - Heritage Open Days with Bell-ringing 10 and 11 September

Heritage Open Days with Bell-ringing from the Lichfield Diocesan Mobile Belfry
Saturday 10 September  11am - 5pm and Sunday 11 September 12.00 - 5pm

National Heritage Open Days celebrates England’s fantastic architecture and culture by offering free access to properties across the country that are usually closed or charge for admission.  Winterbourne Medieval Barn is an outstanding and unique building of national importance now owned by South Glos Council.  Built by Thomas de Bradeston in 1342, just a few years before the Black Death hit in England, only three barns of this scale are recorded as built by gentry’ families, and Winterbourne is the only survivor. It was built using the green-timber construction methods which were the cutting-edge technology of that period. It is a fine example of a raised-cruck construction, and one of the largest and earliest raised-cruck barns. 

The Lichfield Diocesan Mobile Belfry will be installed in the Barn throughout the weekend and bell-ringers will be on hand to demonstrate their skill and let you have a go at ringing. St Michaels Church next to the Barn will also be open over the weekend and offering tower tours. They will have CCTV coverage of the church bells so that you can see them in action.

Free entry.  Access dogs and well behaved dogs on a lead will be welcome. 

Winterbourne Medieval Barn has won the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, and South Glos has just appointed a Project Manager and a Funding Consultant with HLF money, to steer a bid for £1M from the Heritage Lottery Fund to bring the Medieval Barn into full community use. As part of this bid for funding, the Barn itself has to raise £400,000 by December 2017.  It is a unique historical building and we hope that all South Glos residents will be able to appreciate its amazing architecture.

More information is available on their website www.winterbournebarn.org.uk