Tithe Barn, Medieval tithe barn in Pilton, England
Tithe Barn is a stone structure extending across nine bays with tall narrow openings along its walls. The roof employs a raised cruck construction and features four gables decorated with evangelist symbols.
Built between 1322 and 1334 under Abbot Adam de Sodbury of Glastonbury Abbey, the barn served as storage for agricultural produce. It represents the economic power and extensive landholdings of the monastic community.
The barn embodies medieval religious taxation where local farmers contributed one-tenth of their annual produce to the church. This practice shaped the relationship between rural communities and ecclesiastical authority for centuries.
The building now functions as a community venue for weddings, fairs, and public events with spacious interior areas. Its solid stone construction ensures it remains accessible in most weather conditions.
A lightning strike destroyed the thatched roof in 1963, leaving the barn in ruins for decades. Michael Eavis purchased and carefully restored it using traditional materials in 1995, bringing it back to working condition.
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