Grange Barn, Essex: One of Europe’s oldest timber-framed buildings

The beautiful Grade I listed Grange Barn in Essex is one of the oldest agricultural buildings in Europe.

It was built 800 years ago to serve the farms of nearby Coggeshall Abbey and has since been used by generations of farmers.

Grange Barn is one of the triumphs of medieval British vernacular architecture, with a weatherboarded building stretching 130 feet long and 45 feet wide.

The massive roof is supported by an elaborate system of timber posts and beams, with six interior bays with aisles.

Oak pillars soar up to a cathedral-like roof, which is covered in simple red tiles made by hand.

Coggeshall Abbey was founded in 1140 on the banks of the River Blackwater.

The Cistercian Monks farmed a wide area of land known as a ‘monastic grange’ - and a large barn would have been needed to store and process their crops.

Traditional histories of Grange Barn placed the date of construction in the period 1140-1220, based on Carbon-14 dating evidence.

It’s size and the skill involved in its construction gives us an impression of the power and influence of the medieval Abbey at that time.

The monks would have been diverting the river, building a new bridge and a new chapel at the same time.

The Abbey was dissolved in the 1538 by Henry VIII, but it has left a rich legacy of buildings and documents.

Grange Barn has been put to various uses throughout its history.

Originally it would have been used to store, then process, harvested grain, but later became a wartime community hub and was also used as a storage space.

The structure of the barn has also been adapted several times since it was built. Major changes were made in the 1300s to raise the walls, strengthen the roof and include larger doors and porches.

Since then, other changes have been made, including the replacement of the wattle and daub walls with brick.

The barn remained in agricultural use until 1960, but was then allowed to decay to an alarming state.

The owner wanted to pull down the building, but a local charity group formed to rescue the barn from destruction.

It was purchased by the Braintree District Council, then restored in a project lasting two years.

In 1989, the barn was donated to the National Trust to increase awareness and to heighten its exposure to encourage more fundraising.

Although no longer a working agricultural building, Grange Barn continues to be used for a range of events, including food, craft and antique fairs and theatre productions.

Today, if you visit the barn, there are traditional farm carts and wagons on display, a threshing machine, and other agricultural tools.

There is also a special display of The Saunders Tools Collection, woodcarving tools used by local master carver Bryan Saunders until his death in 1975.

For anyone with an interest in traditional woodworking, the Saunders Collection is a goldmine of fascinating chisels, hammers, knives, measuring devices, and a plethora of other carving tools.

Someone who recently visiting the barn wrote a positive review on TripAdvisor.

She said: “Marvel at the architecture of this historic building which is quite breathtaking. Hats off to the people who restored the barn so beautifully.

”Well worth a visit and then a walk down to the old monastery chapel. Sneak a peak at the remains of the monastery now converted into an amazing house.”

Another person added: “It makes you wonder how it could ever have been conceived that this barn should have been demolished.

”We must thank those involved with saving and restoring it. You can only marvel at the skill of the builders who constructed this barn. I would visit in a season other than winter as it was chilly to say the least during our visit.”

Grange Barn is open to the public with a display explaining the history of the Barn, as well as a collection of woodworking tools used by a local craftsman.

Entry to the barn costs just £5 per adult, the address is: Grange Hill, Coggeshall, Colchester, Essex, CO6 1RE.

You can check opening times and book tickets in advance via the National Trust website.

A slightly longer walk down to West Street in the centre of the village brings you to Paycockes, another National Trust property and one of the finest medieval merchants houses in England.

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