The wedding barn was originally built in 1895 and was set up as a milking barn for approximately 16 cows. Due to being a listed building they were unable to make any significant alternations to bring it up to the standard necessary for a 21st century dairy farm. Initially, they tried using it to store cattle over the winter. However, when it came to cleaning out the barn, modern machinery was unable to get through the openings, meaning it had to be done by hand.
Planning permission was submitted for the barn to be converted into living accommodation but later rejected. Ian and Mervyn knew they were unable to use the barn for lambing shed due to the hedges around the farm not being able to keep the cows in, let alone sheep! Although even now we do have an occasional escapee piglet or two!
In 2015, with the future of the barn uncertain and all a bit unsure on what to do, a couple inquired about the possibility of getting married on the farm. This was rapidly followed by another couple expressing a similar desire. This planted the seed and so, in late 2015 Ian and Mervyn bravely decided to start the very exciting (albeit nerve-wracking) process of renovating the barn, to be ready for the first wedding in early 2016.
As you can see from the pictures the barn was in a bit of a sorry state, holes in the roofs and windows falling out. With the help of neighbours and local tradesmen, new roofs, doors, floors, and windows were made as well as handmade trestle tables and hessian runners. Two days before the first wedding, the front of the barn was landscaped using granite stones found underneath the concrete. Whilst works were being done in the barn a beautiful, mahogany antique table was found which is still used in the barn today. The old hand plough found in the barn now hangs above the bar as a constant reminder of the barn’s heritage.
We are now approaching our 10th year, with over 200 weddings behinds us, a plethora of happy memories and an experienced and happy team of people who have and continue to contribute to the success of this endeavor. We feel truly privileged to have met so many wonderful couples and their families from all over the world, travelling to, what must be described as quite a remote spot in the West of Cornwall to share with us the wildness and beauty of this very special place.
To improve our sustainability and reduce our demand for fossil and nuclear fuels, we have installed a 5 KW Evance wind turbine, 4 KW solar panels, a ground source heat pump to provide heating and hot water. We also use an hybrid car which is used as a farm vehicle to feed livestock and carry bails to the fields as well as providing transport to the local farmers markets. Our next renewable energy project is to install hydro-energy from the stream which tumbles 300ft to the sea. This will be used to provide electricity to our wedding barn.
Chypraze Farm has been in the family for four generations and was originally a dairy farm. We now rear saddleback pigs and a small beef herd of Highlanders and Hereford cattle. We also have our own butchery and sell our meat from our Farm Shop and at local farmers markets in Penzance, Madron, Heamoor, St. Erth, Truro and Falmouth.
The Farm Shop is now open:
Wednesday 9:30am - 3:30pm
Friday 9:30am - 3:30pm
Saturday 9:30am - 1pm
