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Owner restores Dales pub in time for his wedding reception

From the archive, first published Thursday 30th Nov 2006.

A DALES man has turned back time and recreated a piece of history at his family's pub in Appletreewick.

Robert Aynesworth has built a new cruck barn at the Craven Arms - and tomorrow it will be the venue for his wedding reception.

It is thought this is the first such barn to be built in the Yorkshire Dales for more than a quarter-of-a-century.

Robert has been working seven days a week to get the project finished and his father, David, and other family members have been pitching in to help.

Robert and his bride, Alison Thornton, will get married at St Wilfrid's Church, Burnsall, before hosting a reception for 65 family and friends in the barn.

Robert said: "I can't think of anywhere we would rather have it. We have worked very hard to get it like this."

The project started after the Aynesworth family took over the 16th century pub last year and decided they needed more dining space.

Robert drew up his own design by studying existing cruck barns in the area and he has been on a sharp learning curve ever since.

He has used traditional techniques and materials to give the barn a wow factor and its authenticity has fooled visitors to the pub.

He said: "People have walked in and said when does it date from'?"

But Robert said it was essential the cruck barn was authentic.

"That was the whole aim of the project - to make it look like it's been standing for 300 years or so," he explained.

Cruck barns date back to Anglo-Saxon times and were the standard form of construction in most of the Dales until the late 1600s.

Robert has used a lime and horsehair plaster on the walls along with a lime wash finish, and wool insulation has been used in the roof.

He said: "It helps the rural economy by using it and it doesn't cost the planet."

A few modern touches have been added, such as under-floor heating, but the whole feel of the barn is like going back in time.

Robert and Alison will be honeymooning in Switzerland, but had to forgo their last planned holiday so Robert could concentrate on finishing the barn.