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Stone Barn

Stone Barn

A stunning Grade II listed 17th-century threshing barn that has been carefully restored. The barn houses displays and equipment covering many aspects of fenland farming.

One of the true highlights of our museum is the stunning Grade II listed 17th-century stone threshing barn.

Carefully restored, this historic building now showcases equipment and displays that explore various aspects of life in the Fens — from fruit growing to farm sales — offering a glimpse into the region’s rich agricultural heritage.

Step inside this remarkable space to uncover something new and admire the craftsmanship of a barn built over 300 years ago using natural materials.

Download our Stone Barn Guide to learn more about some of the highlights.

Stone Barn Highlights

The Bassingbourne Plough

 

 

 

 

 

One of the key attractions in the stone barn is the very old wooden Bassingbourn Plough, ending its life in the Bassingbourn church tower!

Farmers were highly dependent on ploughs to prepare the fields in time for sowing, so ploughs were taken into churches to be blessed in a special church service.

For unknown reasons, this plough had been taken up into the church tower, where it remained for many years.  The plough’s beam has been sawn off, perhaps in order to get it up into the tower.

We do not know exactly how old this plough is, but we suspect pre-1760, looking at its shape against a history of plough evolution.

It was suggested in 1899 in a local publication (The East Anglian), that this plough should be handed over to a County Museum.  In 1999, this came to be, when the plough came to reside here at the Farmland Museum.

Image of a flatbed wagon with a missing wheel in an old stone barn

 

 

 

 

Visitors to the Stone Barn will spot a potato wagon, currently without its wheels as it’s undergoing conservation work.

The wagon wheels are being restored by a wheelwright and Farmland Museum volunteers are receiving training in key conservation skills to enable them to restore the remainder.

This project has been made possible thanks to an AIM Pilgrim Trust Remedial Conservation Grant. Work will continue throughout 2025, so do come along for a chance to see conservation in action.

Historically, this wagon was used by the Martin family, the farmers of the land on which the Farmland Museum now exists, and it helps us to tell the stories of changes in agriculture and of social pressures in the early 20th century.

McCormick Red Tractor seen from the side. It has a small wheel at the front and a large one at back.

One of the biggest items in the Stone Barn is our McCormick International Tractor.

The American International Harvester Corporation (IH) was one of the largest and most successful manufacturers of tractors. They opened factories in Liverpool, Doncaster and Bradford to assemble tractors for the British Market.

IH changed its traditional grey paint scheme in 1936 to red. This bright colour made the tractors more visible to other motorists as they became increasingly used on public roads.

Download our Stone Barn Guide to learn more about some of the highlights.

Explore Denny Abbey and The Farmland Museum

What else will you see on your visit?

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