A historic Suffolk estate has restored a Grade II listed barn within its grounds to create a new walkers’ hub, café and interpretation space, offering a welcoming base for the local community and visitors while strengthening connections with the surrounding landscape and wildlife.

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The 17th century Wades Barn has been carefully repaired and repurposed by Helmingham Estate ahead of the opening of its new woodland adventure playground, Guildenacre, which opens on Saturday 27th June. The new facilities form part of a wider programme of investment to increase public access across the estate.

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The barn will be open from 9am to 5pm every Friday to Sunday between March and October, and daily during school holidays. It will provide an indoor seating area complete with a wood burner for colder weather. The adjoining single storey brick range will house a kitchen serving refreshments, as well as toilets and a visitor reception area with a retail space for Guildenacre visitors.

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Edward Tollemache, custodian of Helmingham and co-founder of Guildenacre with his wife Sophie said: “Wades Barn hasn't had an active use for many years and needed thoughtful repair. This historic building now has a fitting new purpose; we’ve created a place which will benefit the local community and our visitors to both Guildenacre and Helmingham Estate.”

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Suffolk-based architects Hoare, Ridge & Morris, who have worked with Helmingham Estate since 2020, led the design of the project. The original timber structure, believed to have been used for grain and hay storage, has been retained wherever possible, and the roof has been carefully restored.

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Mark Hoare, architect and founder of Hoare, Ridge & Morris said: “Our proposals for Wades Barn have focused on allowing this heritage building to remain truly a barn in character (unlike so many barn conversions) and we have endeavoured to ensure that any updates have been sympathetic to it.

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“I’ve always admired the barn when passing by – it's a building which is prominent in a quiet way as it sits in its open meadow. It’s been a great team effort bringing it back to life; the future of the building has now been secured for another generation, and with its new public use, more people will be able to enjoy and admire the barn whilst also connecting with Suffolk’s agricultural heritage.”

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Bat and bird boxes have been incorporated into the structure, while a 19th century wagon previously stored in the barn will remain in place once Guildenacre opens, preserving a link to the site’s history. A number of artefacts discovered during restoration works will also be displayed.

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The building works were delivered by Suffolk-based contractors Deben Construction, while Xa Tollemache has designed the planting scheme for the outdoor courtyard.

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Mark Keinzley, director at Deben Construction said: “We are delighted to be working with Helmingham Estate on bringing this wonderful building back into a good state of repair and giving it an exciting new future.”

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Inside Wades Barn, new interpretation panels have been created by Drinkall Dean, an architectural design studio, to share the story of the barn, Helmingham’s farming heritage and the surrounding Guildenacre woodland. Designed using tones and textures inspired by the landscape, and featuring graphic design by Pyrah Design, the panels combine archival imagery with storytelling to create an engaging visitor experience.

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Drinkall Dean also designed the retail and admissions space, shaping the interior look and feel of the barn.

Angela Drinkall, partner at Drinkall Dean said: “The new shop sits adjacent to Wades Barn and is a gateway to the imaginative world of the CAP.CO Guildenacre adventure playground. Inspired by Guildenacre, the shop has been conceived as a magical woodland experience, with rich colours, layered textures and bespoke details that spark curiosity and discovery for younger visitors and families.”

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A nearby car park has also been created for visitors and walkers accessing local footpaths and the wider 400-acre Helmingham Park. The car park is free to use and has been positioned to ensure Wades Barn remains a prominent feature within the open meadow landscape.

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For further information and to sign up to the newsletter to receive updates on Guildenacre, please visit: www.guildenacre.co.uk