The Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority (LTVCA) has had it for half a century, but the Stenton Barn is much, much older.
The barn, donated by Horace and Irene Stenton in 1972 to the LTVCA and put in place at C.M. Wilson Conservation Area two years later, is thought to be about 250 years old.
It is believe to be the first barn built west of Charing Cross, according to officials.
The Stentons donated the barn in an effort to preserve the functionality and historic value of the barn. It still stands and is enjoyed by the community.
“Over the past 50 years, the barn has become a popular venue for events and a backdrop for family photos,” Genevieve Champagne, manager of conservation lands and services for the LTVCA, said in a media release.
To recognize the Stenton family’s years of dedication, a new sign was installed at the barn last summer, officially naming the barn in recognition of the Stenton Family.
Inside, a picture of the original barn will be on display alongside a plaque reading “This barn was generously donated in 1974 by Horace and Irene Stenton.”
“It was time the original donors were formally recognized. We’re grateful the family reached out, allowing us to honour Horace and Irene Stenton after all these years” Champagne said.
The Stenton Family shared, “We’re happy the barn is still in use and deeply appreciative of the naming in honour of our beloved grandparents. They would be thrilled to know their donation continues to be valued more than 50 years later.”
