Harmondsworth Barn image

Harmondsworth Barn

Tourist attraction Heritage building

👍👍 This 13th century oak structure is ranked pretty high along other Grade I listed buildings like Westminster Cathedral and Parliament House. It's bit unusual and highly admirable for a timber building that was just used for oat, barley and wheat storage. It also inspired other famous architects who b... People often mention open, barn, history,


Address

The Great Barn, Manor Court, Harmondsworth UB7 0AQ, United Kingdom

Website

www.english-heritage.org.uk

Contact

+44 370 333 1181

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (56 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: open (6) barn (6) history (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 4/5 Anthony C. 10 months ago on Google • 989 reviews
    Be careful! This site only open From 9th April to 22nd October on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month from 11am to 4pm so if you visit any other day you cannot go in. Visited during one of their open days where there are volunteers and shops open. This is very close to heathrow airport but still not very acessible because you have to take a bus then walk through the village to the site so recommend driving here instead. This is a historic barn with over 700 years of history mostly stores grain/food stock in the past. Now managed by english heritage
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ray 2 years ago on Google • 224 reviews
    This 13th century oak structure is ranked pretty high along other Grade I listed buildings like Westminster Cathedral and Parliament House. It's bit unusual and highly admirable for a timber building that was just used for oat, barley and wheat storage. It also inspired other famous architects who based the Christ Church in New Zealand and a library in Oxford with same design. It has survived despite being wooden and whey inside which is an invitation for fire and now let's see if it can repel the Heathrow expansion.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Bella_therapy Corinne R. 3 years ago on Google • 79 reviews
    This is an amazing place. The barn is massive! It's withstood fire and there is a lot to see inside the Barn. It's been used in movies and you can see why. It's like stepping onto a movie set. There is plenty of parking , it's free to get in. Good Covid protocol's in place. There is a pub nearby and a church that has a toilet. It's a good day out. Harmondsworth itself is a really lovely village.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 permaculture 5 years ago on Google
    Dubbed the "Cathedral of Middlesex" by Sir John Betjeman, Harmondsworth Barn ranks alongside the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey for its exceptional architectural and historic interest. Built in 1426 by Winchester College, 14 years before Gutenberg completed his printing press, it is one of the most complete and unaltered pre-Dissolution buildings in Britain. Used for agricultural purposes until as late as the 1970s, it fell into disrepair. It was taken over by English Heritage, restored, and is currently managed by the Friends of the Great Barn at Harmondsworth. The building is only open a couple of days a month, but you can walk around the outside at any time. There is also a granary raised on staddle stones at the same site.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 TiC 4 months ago on Google • 158 reviews
    Great local volunteers, very knowledgeable. You can learn some facts from real people who had ancestors working on this farm. Only downside it's open every two weeks and closed whole winter.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 hanahubuki 1 year ago on Google • 156 reviews
    This gigantic barn near Heathrow Airport was built in 1425-27. William of Wickham, who opened Winchester College, the first public school in history, in 1382, purchased this land in 1391 and donated it to the college. A curse symbol to ward off evil spirits still exists on one of the cornerstones.

  • 5/5 Simon K. 5 years ago on Google • 136 reviews
    Really interesting barn with very friendly and helpful volunteers to explain the history of the place, construction techniques and with lots of information on the inside. Really worth a visit

  • 4/5 Vinay Krishna C. 8 months ago on Google • 119 reviews
    Piece of history close to Heathrow airport

  • 5/5 Deborah A. 5 months ago on Google • 88 reviews
    Very interesting. English Heritage, well informed volunteer staff, very friendly, worth a visit

  • 5/5 Tina C. 1 year ago on Google • 64 reviews
    Very interesting place.

  • 5/5 Faith S. 2 years ago on Google • 38 reviews
    Volunteers are very friendly and provided me with a guide of visiting the barn. Free entry is another attractive point. Lovely architecture

  • 5/5 LifeOfLewi 2 years ago on Google
    Nice bit of history. Definitely worth preserving and moving to a save place when we build the 3rd runway for Heathrow, which is desperately needed

  • 5/5 Mark S. 2 years ago on Google
    Wonderful place. Thank you for the tour!

  • 4/5 Mark L. 2 years ago on Google
    On a blistering hot day it was a relief to enjoy the cool, shady spaciousness of this magnificent structure. The volunteers are friendly and very knowledgeable. I learned a lot about the construction and history of the barn and its surroundings.

  • 5/5 Jason F. 1 year ago on Google • 22 reviews
    An incredible place, outstanding architecture and craftsmanship. Volunteer staff are excellent and know there stuff and have a real passion for protecting and showing off this exceptional example of medieval ingenuity. Well worth a visit any day but especially when local events are on.

  • 5/5 johnjrp01 4 years ago on Google
    Interesting open day with Morris dancers and heavy horse display.

  • 5/5 Leo H. 3 months ago on Google • 22 reviews New
    Great building, but only opens to public on certain days

  • 5/5 wlt648 5 years ago on Google
    Worth a visit, so close to Heathrow and near the proposed expansion. Let's hope it never happens.


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