Thatching work to begin at 13th Century barn

An 800-year old barn, thought to be one of the oldest remaining timber structures in England, is to be rethatched at a cost of £200,000.

The Grade II listed Manorial Barn in Whiston, near Rotherham, was saved from ruin in the 1980s, when the local parish council stepped in to restore it for community use.

Originally constructed by medieval builders to store and process crops, the building is now predominantly used as a wedding venue.

Tony Griffin, from Whiston Parish Council, said: "The barn predates almost everything in the area that's left standing. It is something that very few places have got anything similar."

The work, which is due to begin this winter, will take place in four stages, with each stage costing about £50,000. The barn will remain open for use throughout the process.

The leasing of the barn as a venue for weddings meant that the Parish Council was responsible for the roof, but not day-to-day maintenance and repairs covered by the lease.

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