Feasting
Feasting
As I made my way around and through the chairs heading towards the far end of the barn, I admired the prettiest of flowers which decorated the tables. There were 260 of us here for supper tonight and everything looked perfect.
The evening was organised by the Hampshire Farmers Club and it had in fact begun two hours earlier with a farm tour using a large number of tractors and trailers to take us around.
There were various stops where Simon our farm manager, Geordie or I could offer a little interpretation and we were lucky with weather. The barn, however was our goal.
It was an extraordinary moment for Geordie and I. This medieval barn had been deteriorating slowly over the last few centuries and, as a result, had ended up on Historic England‘s building at risk register. Now it was part of Geordie’s and my responsibility - part of our stewardship of the Highclere Estate - to save it.
When we first began to understand the project and collect quotes to rebuild parts of it, restore other parts and fix the roof, it was eye- watering amounts of money. The answer was to do it bit by bit, as and when we could. The most important thing to do was to start.
There are eight bays in this cathedral-like structure, so we began with the worst. Two and a half bays later we paused for a year or two.
Then we began again to work through two more bays and an opening bay. This was once an entrance for oxen or horses to pull a laden cart across into the barn and wait in the centre whilst its contents could be unloaded and stored. Years after we started, we have now just completed the whole barn. Step by step and determined to keep going, we have documented some of the process with the Hampshire Oak Company and shared various stages on videos with Friends of Highclere.
Hampshire Oak have, with care and time, rebuilt footings, spliced in new oak to beams or queen and king posts, re-roofed with the old tiles and, more recently, found “new” old tiles. As far as possible all the existing beams were kept, - over time they have become as hard as iron but in fact harder and more resilient than that material. Our ancestors built well with the long view in mind.
What is this barn? It is, in many ways, a testament to our ancestors. Last rebuilt in 1438, it was and is an extraordinary structure which, with its height, harmony and beauty of space, is utterly inspiring. It was built to store the harvest and was therefore vital for the local food supply. Grain was and is an essential food source and dry storage was and is key - bread is a fundamental and hugely valued. It was therefore entirely appropriate that it was 260 farmers who joined us to feast once more in this space.
Having arrived, the first port of call was the bar for a light libation: Highclere Castle Gin and tonic, followed by supper, prizes and a very convivial evening. The barbecue and roasted vegetables were delicious, and given the word feast is related to fiesta and joyous, it was all of that.
I wondered when there had last been a feast held inside the barn? Three or four hundred years ago? I am not sure but I spent much of the evening contemplating.
This barn is still used by the farm today – it is not ideal as modern combine harvesters and tractors are somewhat larger than a bullock cart. Our attempts to make our farming endeavours more efficient have been stuck in local planning or Zoning arguments but, with encouragement from Historic England, we are still trying to use a brown field site already in part use by the farm to save towards 400 tractor journeys, 3,000 litres of diesel and reduce the carbon footprint by over 76 tonnes of carbon.
It is all about investing for the future in the countryside and in our food sources. I feel strongly that farming matters, food matters and reducing carbon as much and as fast as possible matters. Like many people I have watched Jeremy Clarkson fight for common sense and reason in rural concerns.
The 260 farmers in the barn simply wish to continue producing food in a volatile world. Food security is important and, like our ancestors, we need to take more of a long view rather than the short term approach which has gone on for too long.
It was a magical evening sitting in perhaps the largest extant medieval barn in this part of the world, a familiar shape in this rural landscape for hundreds of years. "Bere" was the Anglo-Saxon word for barley and "aern" means an earth house, a home or a secret place so a barn is quite literally a home for food.
Thank you to the Hampshire Farmers Club.
Thank you to Hampshire Oak and their craftsmen and the architects Brownhill Hayward Brown.
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76 Comments
What an amazing and inspiring story! Thank goodness this lovely building was not lost, thanks to your stewardship. Congratulations.
Well… that IS quite a barn. I’ve never seen anything like it. Thank you again for sharing your life. It must have been very gratifying for you both to have this feast after the extended period of restoration. I love the wildflower centers; how beautifully appropriate for the venue and occasion.
I was charmed by your recent podcast — the Summer Stroll in the Gardens with Lord Carnarvon. It was wonderful to hear of your love for the plants and flowers and to “see” how much care you have taken to beautify the landscape at Highclere. I was wishing for a video to go along with the audio so that I could see the lovely flowers and trees.
Suzanne from the state of Georgia
Kudo's for restoring this wonderful, ancient structure! It boggles the mind when you reflect on how old it is and how durable the oak beams are. Any pictures of what it looks like from the outside??
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
"Last rebuilt in 1438 . . ."
Thank you for preservation and environmental action.
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
I so admire the massive undertaking of restoration and stewardship you have embarked upon these 20 some years! My goodness I dearly hope future generations tell of your Alminia like blessings you have bestowed upon Highclere with you business and community acumen that propels the numerous projects you’ve undertaken!
Well done you!
Kind Regards,
Dr. Karen Monroy
What a beautiful project. Bravo.
Absolutely extraordinary, in so many different ways. Kudos and a tip of the hat to all that has transpired. Thinking of all the hard physical work put into this magnificent structure makes my back and knees ache.
Such a beautiful barn! I imagine the different generations of people who have passed through the doors. Such a wonderful dream. Thank you for sharing! Once again such a beautiful barn!
Thank you
What an amazing and inspiring story! In today's supermarket, "everything is available" society it is increasingly easy to forget exactly how our food becomes available to us for consumption. Kudos to you and Lord Carnarvon for remaining steadfast in saving and restoring such an important part of history showcasing how farmers used to store and protect foodstuffs for earlier societies. Here in east Tennessee we have too many older barns that are literally falling down.
Incredible piece of farming history. Thank you for the caring to see it saved.
Impressive a building built of wood from back in the 1400s is still safely standing and ok to be inside! Congratulations to you & Lord Carnarvons ability to have it renovated to keep it safely useful!
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
“Last rebuilt in 1438 . . .” It boggles the mind. I am awestruck by the beauty of this medieval barn. No doubt I would have spent the whole of the evening simply looking up. Congratulations and many thanks for your conservation and stewardship. Farming matters. Food matters. May this message be heard, considered, and incorporated as policy is decided.
Lovely the pictures of feasting and did you and lord Carnarvon have a wonderful weekend and lam fan of Downton Abbey and highcelere castle
Wow, just wow! I am the typical American agog at the age of the buildings of England (Europe really) because we have nothing to compare. Thank you so much for the hard work to keep those buildings around! I hope you get to use it for many more functions over the years!
Thank you
It is awe- inspiring - perhaps because of the height it moves me to tears!
Thank you
It looks beautiful - congratulations on a labour of love well done.
I'm just curious to know what it will be used for now, given that it is unsuitable for modern farm vehicles.
As it can accommodate so many people, I suppose something like a wedding venue would not be beyond the realms of possibility.
Best wishes.
The barn will be used for farm storage now. Fertilisers or smaller machines.
Best wishes
Lady Carnarvon
Dear Lady C, I find it so amazing that you were able to preserve something from the Medieval era. Congratulations on having your feast there. I enjoyed watching you video where you did scottish reeling in a party. Did you ever take dance classes on reeling or ballet?
Hello Lady Carnarvon.
Congratulations on a job well done by all.
Now time to test the acoustics with a musical evening perhaps?
Carry on Highclere.
Bonjour Lady Carnarvon,
Vous avez fait une très belle rénovation de votre grange historique, félicitation à vous et votre équipe de travail pour une magnifique restauration historique.
Bonne journée
Hello Lady Carnarvon,
You have done a very nice renovation of your historic barn, congratulations to you and your work team for a wonderful historic restoration.
Have a nice day
What a wonderful, inspiring post. Such a unique building. Would love to take a stroll through it and absorb some of the "spirits" from those who used it in their daily life long, long ago. Thank you fir sharing about this wonderful piece of history!!
Your endeavor speaks to my soul, as the daughter of farmers and whose cousins still work the land on both sides of the pond. Your story will be shared with my U.S. cousins.
I’m curious if you have any insight as to the significance of the circular carving noted in one of the photos. One of the craftsmen’s mark perhaps:) ?
The inside of the barn looks fantastic well done on the planning, restoration, and your continued efforts to adapt to requirements of the times in which we live. Would it be possible to also include a picture of the barn from the outside? Seeing such a large, restored structure is 'food' for all of us. Definitely enjoy reading your Monday morning posts - an excellent way to begin the week.
Excellent restoration work! Could you supply a picture of the barn taken outside from several angles?
What an exquisite structure. The evening must have been a bit like stepping back in time. Just love hearing about all the beautiful buildings and Highclere's history. And thank you for continuing to preserve all the history.
Thank you for a fascinating piece of history.
Lady Carnarvon,
I am awestruck by the handsome beauty of this majestic barn. I am struck by the use of the terms “king and queen posts”! That seems to project the reverence and respect those early barn-builders gave to this essential building that would keep safe the essentials of medieval life - grain. Thank you for saving an historic building and recognizing local farmers who continue to prosper.
Martha
It's beautiful.
Such hard work but looks beautiful now
Hope you all had an enjoyable evening
Thank you ,
Hello Charlotte
I haven't had dance classes. I learnt to reel whilst at University.
Best wishes
Lady Carnarvon
What a marvellous achievement. Thank you for sharing. I had to read twice the part where you said the barn had been deteriorating slowly over the last few “centuries” ! It puts all our present day worries into perspective and it’s good to consider it will still be in existence for centuries to come.
The lovely Tudor church where my husband and I were married has the nickname of “Th’owd Peg” because it is held together with wooden pegs. It was restored about 25 years ago when new wooden pegs were used in place of old. Your barn is so much larger of course but I presume the timbers are secured in the same way.
Your photos are lovely, as always.
Lady Carnarvon,
If I am able to visit Highclere again (we were there in 2019), it would be wonderful to have a farm tour option! As Clarkson's Farm has pointed out, farmers should not have such a difficult time doing this admirable work. Glad your event was a success!
WELL DONE TO YOU ALL .
I am an American who is so thankful that you all at Highclere respect the value of restoring & preserving the history of previous custodians. I love all the beautiful, stately homes that the UK has been fortunate enough to preserve. Thank you for researching the history of your ancestors. Through Downton Abbey I learned what a jewel Highclere is. I cannot even imagine being able to live in such a beautiful place although I’m sure it requires constant attention. It is such a good thing that you & your husband constantly work to repair & maintain this special place so generations to come can enjoy the history & beauty Highclere offers. It is a true gem.
Thank you for the mention of Jeremy Clarkson. It greatly helped me put his program into context. It seemed like most of his ideas were reasonable/practical but his continued rejections and warnings by the council made me wonder if this were just another "bad boy" show similar to some of the "Top Gear" episodes.
Lady Carnarvon,
I was born and raised a farm girl over 70 years ago and can appreciate the beauty of the barn with all its unique characteristics, twisted wood beams and all. How wonderful it is that the community cherishes the barn for what it is and wjat it will be in the future. Thank you for sharing this story.
A wonderful piece! You have made what may have been a dull subject, quite interesting! Thank you, also, for rescuing and restoring this piece of history.
My mother’s grandfather owned a dairy farm called Bryndune Ayrshire Farm. She lived there until she was married. Bryndune had two barns, a cow/calf barn and a bull barn. They were built in 1845, but built of bricks, so nothing had to be restored in later years except the roof.
I The farm passed from our family in the late 1960s. My mother always mourned the loss of her childhood home. She never returned to the farm, it must have been too painful.
It is gorgeous. I'm impressed with this effort. Keep up the good work. I'll see you( hopefully) the next time I visit my daughter in London.
Mary
Good morning.
What a fascinating read, and what a wonderful restoration of an historic structure. In the 8th picture, is that an original builder’s mark? I love searching for builder’s and stone mason’s marks as I tour very old buildings. Again this week, a very educational blog.
Thank you so much
It was a very special evening
Correct!
It is a witches mark!
It is a bit hemmed in and deserves more air and need to move everything away but need planning permission first!
Witches' mark
Of all the photos and reports of buildings and repairs and functions, this account of the barn stirs me TO visit HighClere, medieval barn FIRST.
Hello,
Such an uplifting story of the continuation of the restoration work you continue to do beyond just the castle for the generations to come. Well done.
Thank you for another fascinating and really interesting read. It is wonderful that you are helping save yet another piece of your family and local history in the restoration of this amazing medieval barn. What a beautiful piece of architecture it is in itself. The oak beams are stunning and must hold all manner of interesting stories of life in years gone by. Another endangered building being loved and cared for. Thank you for sharing the photos of both the structure and your celebration - I was intrigued by the “witches mark”.
Good evening,
Thank you for yet anther fascinating insight into restoration (which we love.) is this part of the tour? We will be there July 23. So excited!!
It is not part of the tour at the moment!
It is intriguing
Oh the beauty and workmanship of such a beautiful barn! To think that it's over 330 years older than my country (US) and it still stands is such a testament to its quality. I love England, its people, and its clotted cream!
Thank you for sharing about this wonderful historic structure which I very much enjoyed reading. I have farming ancestors on both sides of my family, and I currently am the archivist on an historic farm, so it was particularly interesting for me.
Such an awe-inspiringly beautiful barn. It is humbling to think about the history and the centuries of human endeavor associated with it.
I was so interested by the witches’ mark that I did a little research at historicengland.org.uk where I read the following:
“Ritual protection symbols or apopotraic marks are found in many historic places, from medieval churches and houses, to barns, and caves to protect inhabitants and visitors from witches and evil spirits.”
Pentangles (like the design on the Highclere barn beam) — “These intriguing marks are very ancient, being recorded as far back as 3000BC. Although in more recent centuries it has become a symbol of evil, during the medieval period it was used to avert it and is thought to have been intended to act as a way to trap evil spirits into the endless line.”
Fascinating!
Such a delightful bit of history! I love old American barns but yours predates by centuries. Thank you for supporting farmers and local producers. Wonderful blog!
Lovely to see this. I remember beautiful barns in our Wiltshire parish, particularly one in Kingston Deverill where we had a celebration after a church service.
Adrienne in New Zealand
It's so very wonderful to see the work of ancestors lives on in such a practical way.
As Australians, we have a long way to go and I fear that most of the time we look at short term gain. We don't have the benefit of examples such as yours in our Country.
Congratulations to all who have laboured in the past and to those who will continue to do so in the future, to preserve and use these amazing buildings for their intended purpose, thereby promoting the value of working the land to provide food security.
Lady Carnarvon, you have not only provided employment and preservation, but also lots of very valuable lessons for those who would look and learn.
How lovely
Thank you
Thank you -There is a second one as well and both by doors/openings to keep witches/evil spirits out
It is a team effort - it means a huge amount to my husband who is the farmer - walking the fields and wrestling with red tape.
Boa noite Lady Carnarvon,
O texto foi tão bem escrito que quando eu estava a lê-lo tive insights do passado das terras do Castelo de Highclere, lembrei- me e vi os druidas se reunindo debaixo das florestas de Carvalho nas suas reuniões secretas e das bruxas , e que naquele tempo havia a perseguição e morte delas, houve o tempo das cruzadas e o meu BRASIL apenas era habitado pelos nativos e ainda não havia sido descoberto pelo navegador português PEDRO ALVARES DE CABRAL,quando o celeiro passou pela reforma ,outros insights foram maravilhosos, vi a terra que é a Inglaterra , gosto muito desse país, tenho paixão pelo mundo inteiro, mas a Inglaterra, os carvalhos ,as florestas e o povo DRUIDA ,mora no meu coração. E como dizem os Árabes "ALLAHUAKBAR", DEUS É GRANDE e os insights foram maravilhosos. A terra que a senhora habita é repleta de energia positiva. OH !!! terra bela e maravilhosa. E em cada pedaço de madeira de carvalho,há um passado,quem tem esse tipo de insight (P.E.S.)
percebe isso tocando os objetos e visualiza o passado..E o símbolo das bruxas reflete o passado das árvores, das florestas de carvalho que haviam na antiga Inglaterra. Que trabalho maravilhoso que a Família HERBERT faz em HIGHCLERE. Meus parabéns, meus parabéns, meus parabéns ao EARL ET COUNTESS OF CARNARVON e a toda Família que preservou desde tempos imemoriais através de seus ancestrais essa linda propriedade. Que DEUS continue em sua glória, tomando conta de todos vocês e da Inglaterra,da Europa e de todo o planeta terra .Porque o nosso mundo é muito lindo , a vida é muito bela e ALLAH olha por todos.E digo novamente ALLAHUAKBAR em Árabe que em português se diz " DEUS É GRANDE ".
Muito,muito obrigada.Texto magnífico minha senhora.
TCHAUU.
Just brilliant! We lived for a while in a rural area, as it was the site of our parish calling. In our modern age we forget the power of the past, and neglect the stewardship of the land in our time. You account connects the past with the present into the future and I can't thank you enough. Highclere is more than a pretty face.
Thank you for your thoughts
I always enjoy reading your monthly blogs. Thank you so much for sharing them with us.
Absolutely lovely barn! Thank you for restoring it!
Growing up in the Netherlands I really took for granted all the history and legacy from “the old world”.
But now living in Texas, that is something I truly miss. Reading your weekly blog, usually over a nice cup of tea, bring back so many great memories.
Lady Carnavon,
It is so restful to my mind to reflect on the the beauty and strength of your Medieval barn. I read this post a week ago, and have thought of it often as I go about my own farm chores. It leads on to all kinds topics -- musings on history, craftsmanship, and the essential qualities of English oak. Through all the changes brought by passing centuries, that barn has stood, and now will continue to stand. Thanks for this wonderful post, and for taking "the long view". May future generations of your family have that same wisdom!
Mary Johnson
Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you for sharing your mighty rustic barn with us. I feel almost as if
I was there to share the festivities and beauty……from “across the pond.”
Amazing!
Sounds absolutely wonderful
Dear Lady Carnarvon:
Thank you for this Monday's blog.
What an amazing feat and story! What strength the "mighty oak" has, enduring all these centuries.
Congratulations! and thank you to you, Lord Carnarvon, and all interested parties involved in the restoration of the "Barn". May you be a testament to the next generation.
Until next time, may this facility continue to be put to good farming use.
Perpetua Crawford
Great restoration! Keep up the good fight.