Tithe Barn at Bradford-upon-Avon South West, England

The river Avon winds its way through this town, which grew up around the river.  The first mention of Bradford, meaning ‘broad ford’ on the Avon,  was in 955 when King Aedred gave the town to Nunnaminster, and then again it was mentioned when King Ethelred the Unready granted the manor of Bradford to the nuns of Shaftesbury Abbey in 1001.

The tithe was the medieval tax paid by the villagers to the landowner.  This was paid in livestock, or produce and needed to be stored somewhere safe and dry.  This is why Tithe barns were used.

The Tithe Barn at Bradford-upon-Avon dates from the mid-14th century, it was built for Barton Grange which was a manor house belonging to Shaftesbury Abbey in Dorset.

What is amazing about this tithe barn is that it has retained its original cruck roof.  It is one of the best-preserved medieval barns in England. It is also one of the largest being 51 meters (168 feet) in length.