Barn Theatre

A seventeenth century aisled barn (possibly originally two barns) was moved to its present site at Handside Farm in 1832. The Horn Family ran the Dairy Farm until 1926, after which is was used as a bottling plant for a decade during which time the adjoining concrete silo was added. It was converted to a little theatre seating 150 on tip-up seats in 1932. After use during the Second World War for Army Cadets, it was refurbished in 1946. By 1948 the land had become part of the new Welwyn Garden City and fell under control of the local authority, who eventually leased it to the local Little Theatre Group.

The barn remains substantially in its 1832 state, the auditorium now with raked seating to accommodate 140 under the original exposed roof timbers. Additional facilities such as green room, wardrobe, stores, refreshment facilities and two rehearsal rooms, one of which doubles as a studio accommodating 25, are housed in adjacent buildings. The Barn Theatre Club is a member of the Little Theatre Guild.