Funky Wedding Venues

Venue Review

Character: A magnificent historic barn in a beautiful rural setting.

Funky Features: Majestic hall and gallery, the huge barn doors lead to a lawn area which is perfect for a barbecue, Lains Barn provides an ideal setting for civil wedding ceremonies, partnerships, naming and citizenship ceremonies followed by your own special reception and party.

Location and History

Lains Barn is a listed wooden building and therefore smoking is not permitted.

Lains Barn was originally used for corn. During the harvest, wagons would enter through the large doors. The sheaves were unloaded and stored at either end of the barn. Later, during the Winter, these were threshed with flails between the two open doors, using the draught of air to separate the grain from the straw.

In Victorian times, corn was threshed by machine, so the barn was extended with the addition of an L-shaped cow byre enclosing a fold yard. In 1970 the barn was no longer useful for modern farming methods - planning permission for residential use had been refused - and it’s future was threatened by demolition. In 1977 the Vale and Downland Museum Trust in Wantage acquired the property to restore it for the community.

The restoration of the barn was initiated by Dr Dick Squires. Conversion plans for the barn were basic but flexible, leaving the majestic spaces intact. As a pioneer project it created great interest in architectural circles. The Montague Report “A Policy for the re-use of Britain’s Historic Buildings” states:

“Lains Barn, a classic timber framed barn dating in part from 1750 is now used for community and educational functions. The low key conversion scheme using mainly voluntary labour and old materials is recognised as one of the most successful barn conversions in the country.”

Interior and Spaces for Hire

Lains Barn is a magnificent historic barn in a beautiful rural setting near Wantage, Oxfordshire. As well as the majestic hall and gallery, the huge barn doors lead to a lawn area which is perfect for a barbecue . Lains Barn provides an ideal setting for civil wedding ceremonies, partnerships, naming and citizenship ceremonies followed by your own special reception and party.

The main barn and gallery can hold up to 150 people. In addition there is a glazed and heated cow byre, kitchen, toilets, lighting, heating, bar and plentiful electric sockets.

The Oxfordshire Registration Service carry out the afternoon ceremonies at Lains Barn for which they make a separate charge. When you view the barn you will receive all the information you require to make a decision about booking the venue and how to contact the Registrars to book your ceremony time.

The Barn is for your sole use from 9am to midnight. No-one works at the barn other than the bar staff who come in for your event. This is what helps make Lains so special. They try to impose only the minimum of restrictions but at the same time ask you to respect the barn which is ancient and fragile.

All of this will be explained to you when you view.