TWO COLLABORATIVE guidebooks have been produced by Bradford on Avon's Museum and Preservation Trust to celebrate 1000 years of the West Barn.

The Preservation Trust’s booklet, Barton Farm, The Last Thousand Years, is written by Margaret Dobson and Gareth Slater, and concentrates on the farm's history up to present day.

Their booklet was inspired by the very successful exhibition on the Farm’s history shown in the West Barn in 2014.

Mrs Dobson said: “Even before the Trust restored the West Barn in 2001 – 2002, I was keen to find out more about the history of Barton Farm and the people who have lived and worked there.

"I have been lucky enough to gather information at first hand about the workings of the farm in the mid 20th century and to record this for future generations. It is very satisfying now to share some of that material with others”.

Mr Slater added: “One of my main interests has been, with the help of several others, in translating lists of field names into maps which show how Barton Farm's land was not in one block, but scattered over what had been the common fields of the medieval manor.”

The museum's respective booklet, The Buildings of Barton Farm, was put together by Pamela and Ivor Slocombe and is an in depth study of the buildings and their history up to the end of the 16th century.

"The medieval buildings of the farm, especially the great tithe barn, have intrigued antiquarians and the public for centuries. Fortunately, they have also inspired many artists and photographers, showing us the changes which have taken place," said Mrs Slocombe.

"Ivor has used Shaftesbury Abbey and other records to give an historical background and I have drawn on recent fieldwork and tree-ring dating to describe and explain the buildings."

The booklet coincides with a six day exhibition at the West Barn from April 27-May 2 from 11am-5pm, depicting its history from the 21st century dating back to the Anglo Saxons.

Simon Relph, who is organising the exhibition on behalf of the trust, spent a great deal of time researching the farm's history and wanted to celebrate this milestone with a tribute to the historic building.

"I am really looking forward to it. It is such an amazing place, steeped in history that a huge number of people come and visit every year," he said.

"It has been an arduous task but hopefully it will be well worth it."