AS the weather warms up, the Barn opens for the bulk of its community events for the year. First up is the Medieval Fayre, which takes place on Sunday June 11, from 11am-4pm.
In 1393, Blanche de Bradeston was granted the right to hold a fair adjacent to Winterbourne church each June and October and our fayre is held in recognition of this. Living history group The Company of Chivalry will re-enact daily life during the 1300s when the Barn was built.
Come and wander around the authentic tents and fire pit, chat to the enactors, ask questions, and watch them go about daily tasks as they would have done them 700 years ago.
There will be a full programme of activities throughout the day, including talks and demonstrations about many different aspects of medieval life, plus live music, a wide range of artisan craft stalls, activities for children including hands-on craft and dressing-up, and plenty of excellent food and drink stalls.
It’s a great day out for all ages. Entry is £5 (children £1) and tickets can be pre-paid online to avoid queues on the gate.
There is free parking at Winterbourne Academy on the High Street, with free shuttle buses to and from the barn all day. There is no parking on Church Lane, as this impedes emergency vehicles, with limited disabled parking at the Barn but this must be reserved in advance.
On June 17, there is the chance to have a proper barn dance in a real barn. Excellent local band Sargents Mess will play traditional tunes.
No dance experience is needed – caller Rob shouts out the moves as you go along. It’s lots of fun for all ages, even if you just want to have a drink and listen to the band, and there is free parking on site.
On June 22, the incomparable Professor Ronald Hutton returns to the barn to talk about the Medieval and Early Modern Witch Hunts, and the impact they have had on beliefs and human rights today. Tickets are selling fast.
You can book online for all these events at www.winterbournebarn.org.uk, via Facebook or on Ticketsource.
For those without internet access, a box office is open 1.30-2.30pm on the first Thursday of each month for in-person ticket sales.
We are looking for more volunteers to join the Barnforce team, who spend two or three hours per month doing general maintenance and tidying up.
They usually meet on the third Saturday morning of the month at 10am, but this can depend on weather and events. The next planned meeting is on June 10 to prepare for the Medieval Fayre.
If you are interested in helping, please contact Stef on stefano@fantini.co.uk
By Louise Harrison
Winterbourne Medieval Barn
