Spectacular spaces

With an ambition to be one of the premier wedding venues in the north of England, The Oakwood at Ryther is a spectacular combination of barn conversion and new build in a charming rural setting between Tadcaster and Selby.

For generations this had been a family farm but has now been stylishly transformed to provide everything required for a wedding to remember, with stunning spaces for up to 180 people on the day plus luxury overnight accommodation for 32 guests.

Arguably the most eye-catching feature of The Oakwood is the Ceremony Hall, a superb space defined by four soaring oak cruck frames which hint at its former role as a barn at the same time as providing something of the ambience and atmosphere of a church.

These were designed, built and installed by Yorkshire Oak Frames, using traditional craft skills dating back centuries to create something undeniably modern, as the company’s managing director Adam Walker explains.

“Each of the crucks is made from two pieces of wood cut from the same tree, with the two halves ‘book-ended’ together to keep its shape,” he says. “The frames used around a dozen trees in all.”

The overall design of the hall, which measures 22.5m long by 9m wide, was devised by an architect with Yorkshire Oak Frames subsequently creating the frame to fit.

“The architect gave us the basic footprint of the structure and we worked to that,” says Adam. “The clients wanted something with the ‘wow’ factor and we worked closely with them and the architects to deliver it.”

Although the Ceremony Hall might be the piece de resistance of the project, Yorkshire Oak Frames’ five-month involvement at The Oakwood extended right across the site.

This included internal wall cladding in the Old Grain Store – another converted barn which now comprises a banqueting area and bar – and the 15 bedrooms, openplan kitchen and dining area of the site’s accommodation wing.

Here the purpose-built structures are characterised by Yorkshire Oak Frames’ signature full-height glazing and feature frames, creating light, airy rooms with a heightened sense of space.

Although initially developing its reputation through work in domestic settings, Yorkshire Oak Frames is now well established in the commercial buildings market, with The Oakwood being an excellent example of what its craftsmen can achieve.

“This was a big project for us,” says Adam. “The clients were delighted with the end result and were inundated with enquiries as soon as the website went live.”

Yorkshire Oak Frames has created something stunning at new wedding venue

■ Carlshead Farms, Paddock House Lane, Sicklinghall, Wetherby LS22 4BJ.

■ www.yorkshireoakframes.co.uk

■ Telephone: 01423 209035.

■ The Oakwood at Ryther, Moor Lane, Ryther, Tadcaster LS24 9EL.

■ www.oakwoodryther.co.uk

Each of the crucks is made from two pieces of wood cut from the same tree