Great Coxwell

Dating to around 1292, it was originally built for Beaulieu Abbey in Hampshire when they controlled the local manor. This isn't just a weathered agricultural shed; it's an impressive structure that really demonstrates the scale and skill of medieval construction.

The barn is Grade I listed and a Scheduled Ancient Monument, now maintained by the National Trust. Once inside, you'll see the timber framing and understand the engineering effort that went into creating something this substantial seven hundred years ago. It served as a storage building for the church's tenth of local farm produce, which both explains its size and accounts for why it's survived so well—important buildings tend to get looked after.

The village itself is quiet and rural, offering pleasant walks through countryside that reveals how the Cotswolds landscape has evolved across centuries. It works well as a stop on a broader loop around the Swindon area, or as a straightforward detour if you're travelling between larger towns like Cirencester or Faringdon. Budget an hour or so to see the barn and walk around the village.