Prior’s Hall Barn — Medieval Mastery in Essex

A Monument to Rural Craftsmanship

Hidden in the countryside near Widdington, Prior’s Hall Barn is a spectacular survivor from medieval England.
Built around 1400, it served the manor of Prior’s Hall, once owned by Ely Abbey.
Today, this immense timber structure remains almost perfectly intact, showcasing the engineering genius of medieval carpenters.

It’s a place where centuries of farming, faith, and skill come together beneath soaring oak beams.

Built for Monastic Prosperity

The barn was constructed to store grain and tithes collected by the monks of Ely Abbey.
Its size — nearly 120 feet long and 30 feet high — reflects the wealth and influence of monastic estates during the Middle Ages.
However, when the monasteries were dissolved in the 1530s, the barn passed into private hands yet continued its agricultural role.

Therefore, Prior’s Hall Barn stands as both a spiritual and economic monument of medieval England.

Exploring Prior’s Hall Barn
1. The Architecture

The barn’s timber frame is built entirely of oak, joined with wooden pegs and mortise-and-tenon joints.
Massive aisled bays divide the interior, while weather-boarded walls and a steeply pitched tiled roof protect it from the elements.
In addition, natural light filtering through the doors and slats creates a dramatic, cathedral-like atmosphere.

2. Craftsmanship and Design

Look closely at the carpentry: the curved braces, jointed posts, and perfectly balanced beams.
This precision work required no nails or iron — just skill, geometry, and experience.
Furthermore, interpretive boards explain how medieval builders managed weight and tension using nothing but timber and hand tools.

3. The Setting

Surrounded by meadows and farmland, the barn offers calm countryside walks and open views across the Essex–Cambridgeshire border.
In spring and summer, wildflowers and birds fill the air, adding colour to the ancient scene.

Learn more at the English Heritage website

A Living Link to the Past

Although silent now, Prior’s Hall Barn once bustled with carts, grain sacks, and harvest labourers.
Its enduring frame has survived storms, wars, and centuries of change.
Moreover, conservation work by English Heritage ensures that the barn remains safe for future generations to admire.

It’s not just a farm building — it’s a masterpiece of medieval engineering still standing proud.

Visiting Prior’s Hall Barn
How to Get There

Address: Widdington, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11 3SF

By Car: 4 miles north of Stansted Mountfitchet; small car park on site

By Train: Newport (Essex) Station ≈ 3 miles

By Bus: Local services from Saffron Walden and Newport

Opening Hours & Admission

Open daily, dawn to dusk

Free entry

Facilities

Open-air site with information boards

No toilets or café on-site

Step-free access around exterior; firm earth floor inside

Nearby Attractions

Audley End House — One of England’s grandest Jacobean mansions

Mountfitchet Castle — Reconstructed Norman fort and village

Saffron Walden Museum — Local history and archaeology

Thaxted Guildhall — Timber-framed Tudor hall in a pretty market town

Together, they form the North Essex Heritage Trail.

Why Visit Prior’s Hall Barn?

The Prior’s Hall Barn experience offers:

Outstanding medieval carpentry in original form

Peaceful rural setting perfect for quiet visits

Free access all year

Connections to England’s monastic past

Whether you’re fascinated by architecture, history, or photography, this barn captures the spirit of craftsmanship that built medieval England.
It’s not just timber and nails — it’s centuries of human ingenuity under one roof.