WINTERBOURNE’S medieval barn has been granted £165,000 to kickstart an ambitious restoration programme which includes a new education centre.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) money will allow trustees of the Grade 2 listed 14th century barn and South Gloucestershire Council to progress plans to refurbish the barn and find new uses for outbuildings in a project which will total over £1million.

Cllr Heather Goddard (Con, Hanham), chairman of the council’s communities committee, said: “We are grateful for the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund to fund the development of this exciting project which will help preserve the buildings and create educational opportunities.

“It is great to know that we are now a step closer to renovating the barn so that future generations can continue to enjoy it.”

Winterbourne Medieval Barn Trust, which manages the barn and organises various events on site during the year, now has until December 2017 to apply for further funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

If the bid is successful, as well as restoration and refurbishment of the barn and outbuildings, a heritage education centre would be created to demonstrate the history of the barn and its architecture as well as information about the local area. Overall, the complex would provide flexible spaces for a variety of community, educational and commercial uses.

Trust chairman Sue Parsons said: “Winterbourne Medieval Barn Trust is delighted with the award of the HLF Development Grant.

“It will help us to secure the future of this magnificent building. It will also help us to develop the complex into a valuable community asset and during this important development phase we would be delighted to hear from anyone interested in the project.

“The trust needs to raise an additional £400,000 to see the project through to completion.”

The barn is considered a building of national importance. Built in 1342, it was commissioned by Thomas de Bradeston, Lord of the Manor of Winterbourne from 1328 until his death in 1360. After the accession of Edward III he became attached to the royal service, taking part in all of the King’s military campaigns as well as frequently serving in parliament.

The barn is said to be outstanding example of a raised-cruck construction, one of the largest and earliest of its kind, and the original roof structure remains largely intact. The barn, church and hamlet were designated as a conservation area by South Gloucestershire Council in 2005.

Nerys Watts, head of HLF South West, said: “Winterbourne is one of England’s great surviving medieval barns that can tell us a lot about the history and development of this area.

“Thanks to National Lottery players, today’s investment will help develop plans to breathe new life into this historic building and marks the start of an exciting journey to bring the barn into much wider community use. We look forward to seeing how the project develops over the coming months.”