Name: Leigh Court Barn
Rating: 5.0

Leigh Court Barn

Leigh, Worcester, Worcestershire WR6 5LB, UK

1-99 Years

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Description

Leigh Court Barn is an outstanding example of English medieval carpentry, and the largest cruck framed structure in Britain. Built for Pershore Abbey in about 1325, it is over 42 metres long with 18 cruck blades - each made from a single oak tree.

This barn is the only surviving building from the manor of Leigh Court, which belonged in the Middle Ages to the monks of Pershore Abbey. There were once other farm buildings and houses, and the abbot himself is known to have sometimes resided here. Medieval monasteries owned farmland that could supply them with food and raw materials, either directly, or indirectly through the sale of surplus produce. Monastic farms, known as granges, were often large-scale operations, and the size and magnificence of the grange barn at Leigh Court suggests that the Pershore Abbey farm was a well-organised and lucrative business.

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.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: No

Features

History of Leigh Court Barn: This barn is the only surviving building from the manor of Leigh Court, which belonged in the Middle Ages to the monks of Pershore Abbey.
There were once other farm buildings and houses, and the abbot himself is known to have sometimes resided here.
Medieval monasteries owned farmland that could supply them with food and raw materials, either directly, or indirectly through the sale of surplus produce. Monastic farms, known as granges, were often large-scale operations, and the size and magnificence of the grange barn at Leigh Court suggests that the Pershore Abbey farm was a well-organised and lucrative business.
Radiocarbon dating has shown that the timbers for the barn were felled in the spring of 1344, which supports the evidence of carpentry techniques that date the barn to the 14th century.
With the closure of the abbey in 1540 the farm passed into lay hands. Until relatively recently the need for large barns for storing and threshing grain remained unchanged.
Thanks, no doubt, to its size and sturdy construction, the barn has survived largely unaltered for almost 700 years.
Description: The barn is over 42 metres (140 feet) long, with trusses nearly 33 feet (10 metres) high and spanning 34 feet (10.4 metres).
Characteristically, barns had pairs of doors on opposite sides, with the threshing floor between them; the floor here is made of flagstones. With the doors open, the wind blew through the building to winnow the grain, which was tossed in the breeze until all the dust and chaff blew away.
Externally the barn is partly weatherboarded, though the steep angle of the tiled roof suggests that it may once have been thatched.
Cruck Construction: Inside, the most distinctive features are the massive crucks – nine pairs of curved timbers like huge ribs that support the main structure.20Cruck construction was adopted early in the 14th century, and this is the largest and one of the oldest surviving cruck barns in Britain.
Wattle and Daub: The outer walls of the barn were originally filled with tall single panels of wattle and daub, or wooden rods interwoven with twigs or branches and covered with mud or clay. Over the centuries, these have mostly been replaced with brick infilling.

Facilities

Parking: There is very limited parking available on the roadside.

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Price

Price: Free

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Open Thursday-Sunday.

Address: Leigh, Worcester, Worcestershire WR6 5LB, UK

Post Code: WR6 5LB

Council: Malvern Hills

County: Worcestershire

Road Access: 5 miles west of Worcester on an unclassified road off A4103.
Bus Access: Astons service 417, LMS Travel 423 & 425 (Fri only) to within 1 mile.
Train Access: Worcester Foregate Street 5 miles.
Bicycle Access: Find this site on The National Cycle Network.
Parking: There is very limited parking available on the roadside.