Dronfield Hall Barn
Dronfield Hall Barn is managed by the Dronfield Heritage Trust, a registered charity, formed in 2007 to take on the challenge of rescuing and re-developing the Barn into a high-specification community hub for Dronfield and District. It was originally a high status Medieval Hall built by Lady Alice Deincourt – great Aunt to Richard III. Dating back to 1430, it is Dronfield’s earliest recorded domestic building.
Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Trust embarked on a four-year project to restore the barn. The Barn opened in February 2016 offering heritage displays, space for art exhibitions, a coffee shop serving light lunches and delicious home-made cakes, heritage, sensory and wildflower gardens and a high quality visitor experience.
Now self-sustainable, the Trust run a packed programme of events to engage the community and generate income to keep the Barn open. This includes a Medieval Festival, Artisan Markets and the new Dronfield Arts Festival. We also offer bespoke wedding packages, corporate room hire and opportunities to sponsor our exhibitions. The Barn stocks local publications and produces in-house publications of local interest.
The events and the day to day management of the barn are reliant on a team of skilled and dedicated volunteers. Through this activity, the Trust has formed partnerships with local history, arts, wildlife and walks groups – who all support us through our Friends scheme.
The Trust is delighted to be part of Destination Chesterfield. Trust Chairman, Alan Powell, said:-
‘Promoting our area as a good place to live and visit will not only have an economic impact but social benefits as well – we have turned a derelict barn into a thriving hub for the community and we look forward to exploring the opportunities that being a Champion presents us with’.
