miscellaneous
Architect unknown, 1280
Manor Farm, Bury Street / Eastcote Road, HA4 7SU
Part of Manor Farm Heritage Site, The Great Barn is a Grade II listed building and one of the oldest timber framed buildings of its type. Usually closed only for private events, the building as offers a glimpse into the rural history of the local area and is a testament to local craft and engineering.
Ruislip, Ruislip Gardens, Ruislip Manor
West Ruislip
331, E7, H13, U1, U10
10:00–16:00
13:00–16:00
The Great Barn at Manor Farm in Ruislip is one of the oldest and most significant timber-framed barns in London, dating back to the 13th or early 14th century. It was originally constructed as part of the Manor of Ruislip, which was owned by the Benedictine monks of Bec Abbey in Normandy and later by King's College, Cambridge after the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
Built using traditional medieval carpentry techniques, the barn served as a tithe barn, where local tenants would deliver a portion of their crops and produce as rent or taxes to the lord of the manor. Its vast interior, open roof structure, and original oak timbers reflect the craftsmanship of the period and the agricultural importance of the site.
Over the centuries, the barn continued to be used for storage and farming purposes, eventually becoming a symbol of Ruislip's rural heritage. In modern times, the Great Barn was restored as part of a major conservation project and is now a Grade II listed building. It is occasionally used for community events, exhibitions, and private functions, offering a rare and atmospheric example of medieval agricultural architecture in an urban setting.