filmknight
Member
First of all I want to say how much I enjoy this website. It has motivated me to spend more time outdoors going to places I wouldn't normally know about. Other people posts have motivated me to go and explore and do my own posts, such as the Holton Heath Cordite Factory, The Smugglers Cave and now this beautiful building, Colins Barn. Thanks to the people who put the site together and keep it going and thanks to all it's contributers for keeping exploration alive 
April 2011
Information about the building gained from reading 'Neill's' original post about this building and very little from google searches.
Colins Barn was built by Colin Stokes, an eccentric artist, beginning in the 80's. It was apparantly started as a shed/shelter for sheep but he continued adding to it over many years. Eventually the council found out about it and stopped him from building it anymore as he had no planning permission for it. Ultimately Colin Stokes sold up and moved to Scotland. I understand the new owner does not like people visiting Colins Barn ( as it's on private land I guess ) and sadly the Colins Barn is only used for storing random equipment as shown in one of the photos.
If any of these details are incorrect or if anyone has any further information about this amazing place please post it on this thread so I can know more. Thanks
So it started with me randomly happening across 'neill's' thread about Colins Barn. Being a fan of the fantasy genre since I was a kid I was immediately drawn to this buiding. Within seconds of seeing the photo's I decided I was going to find it for myself.
From reading other peoples posts I was disheartened to find that what they said was correct, info about Colins Barn is very scarce in detail on the internet and the location is not revealed. There are a few clues from people but nothing conclusive. I emailed a few people and Folly groups but alas no response. So I decided to do it the hard way and study the photos, read peoples descriptions, look at maps and rummage around some fields.
I had driven up to the location specifically to find Colins Barn. I was also very aware, from peoples posts about the potential hazzards such as heavys to escort me away and more worryingly the mention of a rottweiller keeping guard. So as I stumbled across a field around 8.30 at night just as it was starting to get dark I had a surge of mixed emotions as (a) I see a stone turret peaking out above some trees and (b) I notice at the same time a dog lead threaded across the gate leading to said turrets and chewed tennis balls in the hedgerows. As it was getting dark I decided I would return in the morning so I could get some nicely lit photos and because I did not want to have to evade a dog in the dark.
I slept in the car that night about a mile down the road in a quiet layby although I didn't sleep much as I continued worrying about if the dog was in the field guarding Colins Barn. After much tooing and froing and debating in my mind I decided I had come to far to turn back and at 6.30am I went back to the location of the building. I went armed with , as well as my camera, a can of Chilli Con Carne which in my dellusioned sense of fear I had decided that if the dog was there I could either befriend or distract it with a tasty treat (lol!)
I walked past the chewed tennis balls and slowly approached the gate with attached dog lead. Colins Barn was now only a few metres away. I aprehensively rattled the gate expecting a dog from hell to appear with fangs dripping etc. Nothing. I climbed over the gate and walked towards the building and was greeted with nothing more than startled birds. I felt so relieved and also very silly at this point holding a can of Chilli Con Carne. Anyway, I was very happy to have finally found what I had been looking for and to see Colins Barn in person was amazing. It really is so detailed and imaginative and obviously a labour of love for the man who built it.
Having found it the way that I did I am in hindsight pleased that no-one told me the location as now, half the satisfaction of visiting Colins Barn was the search. I felt like Leonardo DeCaprio when he finally found his Beach
UPDATE
Because, along with many other people who have messaged me, I would hate to see this place ruined, I will not reveal where the barn is. I know the genuine ones of you will understand this. Thanks.
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April 2011
Information about the building gained from reading 'Neill's' original post about this building and very little from google searches.
Colins Barn was built by Colin Stokes, an eccentric artist, beginning in the 80's. It was apparantly started as a shed/shelter for sheep but he continued adding to it over many years. Eventually the council found out about it and stopped him from building it anymore as he had no planning permission for it. Ultimately Colin Stokes sold up and moved to Scotland. I understand the new owner does not like people visiting Colins Barn ( as it's on private land I guess ) and sadly the Colins Barn is only used for storing random equipment as shown in one of the photos.
If any of these details are incorrect or if anyone has any further information about this amazing place please post it on this thread so I can know more. Thanks
So it started with me randomly happening across 'neill's' thread about Colins Barn. Being a fan of the fantasy genre since I was a kid I was immediately drawn to this buiding. Within seconds of seeing the photo's I decided I was going to find it for myself.
From reading other peoples posts I was disheartened to find that what they said was correct, info about Colins Barn is very scarce in detail on the internet and the location is not revealed. There are a few clues from people but nothing conclusive. I emailed a few people and Folly groups but alas no response. So I decided to do it the hard way and study the photos, read peoples descriptions, look at maps and rummage around some fields.
I had driven up to the location specifically to find Colins Barn. I was also very aware, from peoples posts about the potential hazzards such as heavys to escort me away and more worryingly the mention of a rottweiller keeping guard. So as I stumbled across a field around 8.30 at night just as it was starting to get dark I had a surge of mixed emotions as (a) I see a stone turret peaking out above some trees and (b) I notice at the same time a dog lead threaded across the gate leading to said turrets and chewed tennis balls in the hedgerows. As it was getting dark I decided I would return in the morning so I could get some nicely lit photos and because I did not want to have to evade a dog in the dark.
I slept in the car that night about a mile down the road in a quiet layby although I didn't sleep much as I continued worrying about if the dog was in the field guarding Colins Barn. After much tooing and froing and debating in my mind I decided I had come to far to turn back and at 6.30am I went back to the location of the building. I went armed with , as well as my camera, a can of Chilli Con Carne which in my dellusioned sense of fear I had decided that if the dog was there I could either befriend or distract it with a tasty treat (lol!)
I walked past the chewed tennis balls and slowly approached the gate with attached dog lead. Colins Barn was now only a few metres away. I aprehensively rattled the gate expecting a dog from hell to appear with fangs dripping etc. Nothing. I climbed over the gate and walked towards the building and was greeted with nothing more than startled birds. I felt so relieved and also very silly at this point holding a can of Chilli Con Carne. Anyway, I was very happy to have finally found what I had been looking for and to see Colins Barn in person was amazing. It really is so detailed and imaginative and obviously a labour of love for the man who built it.
Having found it the way that I did I am in hindsight pleased that no-one told me the location as now, half the satisfaction of visiting Colins Barn was the search. I felt like Leonardo DeCaprio when he finally found his Beach
UPDATE
Because, along with many other people who have messaged me, I would hate to see this place ruined, I will not reveal where the barn is. I know the genuine ones of you will understand this. Thanks.
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image uploader
image hosting service
image uploading
image uploading
post image wordpress
hosting images
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