The barn anchored by 9th-century stones

The Rivington Hall Barn sits on Rivington Lane, looking like a sturdy survivor from a much harder time. It is anchored by an oak cruck frame, and if you look at the foundations, you might find stones from as far back as the 9th century. The records are a bit blurry, spanning between the 9th and 15th centuries, but the massive timbers certainly have the weight of time behind them.

The building was given a makeover in 1905 by Jonathan Simpson for Lord Leverhulme. He enlarged it and added aisles, though the new roof has a flatter pitch than the original. The walls are clad in coursed sandstone, and the interior is divided by six huge oak forks. These forks rest on large boulder stones above the floor line, with the height from floor to ridge line measuring 23 feet 10 inches.

Inside, the space is massive, stretching over 100 feet long. It is a heavy, honest bit of construction. Today, it serves refreshments and hosts celebrations for people visiting the park. It is quite a transformation - from a functional medieval tithe barn to a place where people now sip drinks and celebrate their lives.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons