The Story of Clayfield Farm
Clayfield Farm did not become what it is today overnight. It began, quite simply, as an idea, a quiet sense that this place could be something more.
In 2016, the farmhouse and surrounding grassland were purchased by owner Wayne Morris as a renovation project. At the time, it was far from what you see today. The buildings needed significant work, and the scale of the project was not for the faint hearted. But Wayne, with over 40 years’ experience as a joiner and builder, could see the potential immediately. After years of working across the country on construction projects, this was something different. Something more personal.
What followed was not just a renovation, but a gradual and thoughtful transformation.
Clayfield Farm from above
A New Beginning: Holiday Cottages
The original plan was to restore the farm buildings as self catering holiday cottages, creating a place where guests could step away from everyday life and enjoy the calm of the countryside.
Over time, as the buildings began to take shape, it became clear that the setting itself had something more to offer. The peaceful surroundings, looking out towards the foothills of the Yorkshire Wolds, created a natural sense of space and stillness. It felt like somewhere people would want to gather, not just stay.
The cottages were ready shortly after the pandemic, and since April 2021, guests have been welcomed to Clayfield Farm to enjoy quiet stays, slow mornings and time together. But even then, the story was still unfolding.
From Stay to Celebration
As the site continued to evolve, so did the vision for Clayfield Farm.
The addition of the oak framed venue room, our beautiful Dove Barn, marked a turning point. What had begun as a place to stay gently grew into a place to celebrate. The space opened up new possibilities for weddings, private events and retreats, while still holding on to the calm and character of the farm.
There was also a personal milestone on the horizon. Wayne’s daughter Ellie was due to be married in late summer 2025, which brought a sense of momentum to the next stage of the project.
From April to August 2025, the first weddings were held at Clayfield, with the venue room thoughtfully adapted to host both ceremonies and celebrations. It was a moment of learning, shaping how the space could work and how guests would experience it.
Dove Barn
The transformation of Dove Barn into the ceremony barn became the heart of the next chapter.
Completed just in time for Ellie and Brad’s wedding at the end of August 2025, it was a particularly meaningful moment. Their celebration was the first to take place within the barn, marking not just a family milestone but a new beginning for Clayfield Farm.
Since then, the ceremony barn has become a much loved part of the venue. Couples often say they feel it as soon as they step inside, the atmosphere, the sense of space, the history oozing from every stone. It has become a reason in itself to choose Clayfield for your Yorkshire wedding venue.
Ceremonies can also take place outside, on the patio or within the gardens, offering flexibility while still keeping everything connected to the landscape.
A Labour of Love
Throughout every stage, this has been a deeply personal project.
Wayne has worked on the renovations alongside running his construction business, often spending weeks at a time on site, moving steadily from one building to the next. His sons and now his son in law have been part of that journey too, making it very much a family effort.
There is a care in the detail that comes from this way of working. Each space has been built not just to function, but to feel right. It is something guests often notice, even if they cannot quite put it into words.
Alongside the physical work, there has been the quieter side of building something like this, the planning, the paperwork, the decisions that shape how the farm is experienced. There are still buildings to be restored in time, but the heart of Clayfield is already in place.
Even now, Wayne remains closely involved in the day to day running of the farm, often found helping the team or, more often than not, behind the bar in the venue room.
The Transformation
The changes across the site have taken place gradually, each stage building on the last.
The Farmhouse was the first to be carefully modernised, creating a comfortable and welcoming space while respecting the character of the building.
The surrounding farm buildings, now home to Hazel Cottage, Martin Cottage and The Granary, were made structurally sound and restored over time. Martin Cottage welcomed its first guests in spring 2021, with Hazel Cottage following, and The Granary due to be completed in 2026.
Alongside this, four shepherd huts were hand built and positioned along the edge of the garden, offering a quieter, more tucked away stay.
The venue room, once an open sided car port, has been transformed into a light filled space with wide glass doors opening onto the patio, allowing everything to flow naturally between inside and out.
And at the centre of it all, Dove Barn has been brought back to life as the ceremony barn, completing a vision that began many years earlier.
A Place to Stay, Gather and Celebrate
Today, Clayfield Farm is a place shaped by time, care and a clear sense of purpose.
It is somewhere you can come to stay quietly for a few days, to gather with people who matter, or to celebrate something significant. The setting has remained the same, peaceful, open, and connected to the countryside, but what it offers has gently grown.
At its heart, it is still what Wayne first saw in 2016. A place with potential, now realised, and ready to be shared.
