The pattern of barns and dry stone walls in Upper Swaledale is recognised as being one of the most distinctive agricultural landscapes in Western Europe.
Besides being such an important part of the landscape the barns provide a fascinating insight into the agricultural, economic and social history of the area, helping to tell the stories of rural life over the last 250 years.
The ‘Every Barn’ project ran from late 2015 through to December 2017. The aim of the project was to work with local people, businesses and visitors to record, interpret and share the history and stories of field barns in Upper Swaledale.
It complemented two other programmes that focussed on barns and their heritage:
- A programme of physical restoration and repair for some of the most significant barns in Muker Parish (funded by a legacy)
- Trialling the implementation of changes to planning policy, which will widen the options for use of some barns
The main activities of the project were
- Researching and recording the history of barns in Muker Parish
- Organising training events for people who are interested in learning more about the architecture, structure and history of barns in the area
- Providing opportunities for local people and visitors to hear, see and share the stories of the barns. This could be for example, barns guided walks, school resources, leaflets, videos exhibitions, and events.
The every Barn Tells a Story Project was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, with contributions from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust.
