Name: Bradford-on-Avon Tithe Barn
Rating: 5.0

Bradford-on-Avon Tithe Barn

Pound Lane, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire BA15 1LF, UK

1-99 Years

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Description

Bradford-on-Avon Tithe Barn is one of the largest medieval barns in England, and architecturally one of the finest. It was built in the mid-14th century to serve Barton Grange, a manor farm which belonged to Shaftesbury Abbey in Dorset, the richest nunnery in medieval England. After the abbey was suppressed in 1539, the barn passed into private hands, and was part of a working farm until 1914.

The name ‘Bradford’ means the ‘broad ford’ on the Avon. The earliest mention of the place is in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for AD 652, which refers to King Ceanwalh of Wessex fighting a battle at Bradford on the Avon, but this does not necessarily mean that a settlement existed there.

Free Entry. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

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Host birthday parties: No

Features

Early History: The name ‘Bradford’ means the ‘broad ford’ on the Avon. The earliest mention of the place is in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for AD 652, which refers to King Ceanwalh of Wessex fighting a battle at Bradford on the Avon, but this does not necessarily mean that a settlement existed there. One had certainly appeared by 1001, when King Æthelred ‘the Unready’ (r.978–1016) granted the manor of Bradford, consisting of lands, the parish minster (religious community) and adjacent town, to the nuns of Shaftesbury Abbey, one of the richest religious houses in England. He made the gift in honour of his half-brother, King Edward ‘the Martyr’, who had been murdered in 978, probably by Æthelred’s mother’s retainers. Æthelred stipulated that Edward’s bones should be enshrined at Bradford, where they might be venerated, although there is no evidence that the martyred king’s remains were ever brought there.[1] The manor of Bradford-on-Avon was very large. The Domesday Survey of 1086 reckoned it at 42 hides, with an outlying estate of another 7 hides. There was land for 40 ploughs, 8 of which belonged to the manor farm, Barton Grange. The whole manor was worth £60 a year, making it an outstandingly valuable property.[
The Tithe Barn: Barton Grange was a notably large and well-equipped manor farm. It must have had substantial buildings through the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries, although little archaeological evidence from this early has been found on the site. An early barn, just under 43 metres (140 feet) long, was built probably in about 1300.[3] This would have been dwarfed by the new, great barn.
The Suppression of Shaftesbury Abbey: Shaftesbury Abbey was closed as part of the Suppression of the Monasteries in 1539. In 1546, Henry VIII granted Bradford-on-Avon manor to Sir Edward Bellingham, a gentleman of the Privy Council. Upon Bellingham’s death in 1551 it reverted to the Crown.
End of Use: By 1914, the barn was no longer required for the manor farm. However, its outstanding historic and architectural value began to be recognised. Reginald Hobhouse, as agent for his father, Sir Charles Hobhouse, Baronet, wrote to Alfred Burder, a local antiquary, to inform him that:

Facilities

Parking: There is limited paid parking at the site (charge applies as it is not managed by English Heritage). The barn is also within easy walking distance of the town centre and train station, where more parking is available.
Food & Drinks: The centre of Bradford-on-Avon is a short walk away, places to eat and drink.
Toilets: The centre of Bradford-on-Avon is a short walk away toilets. There are also toilets available in the station.

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Free Entry.

Pricing URL: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/bradford-on-avon-tithe-barn/opening-times/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Open Daily: 10.30am - 4pm.

Address: Pound Lane, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire BA15 1LF, UK

Post Code: BA15 1LF

Council: Wiltshire

County: Wiltshire

Road Access: Located 1⁄2 mile south of town centre off B3109.
Bus Access: Faresaver Zig Zag service; First 264 & 265; Frome Minibuses service 14 & X96.
Train Access: Bradford-on-Avon 1⁄2 mile.
Bicycle Access: Find this site on The National Cycle Network.
Parking: There is limited paid parking at the site (charge applies as it is not managed by English Heritage). The barn is also within easy walking distance of the town centre and train station, where more parking is available.