Ashdon Village Museum

About the museum

Ashdon Village Museum grew out of a boyhood hobby. In 1973 three teenagers in the north Essex village went looking for old bottles after seeing a television programme about bottle digging, and over the next few years they filled an old railway carriage at Hill Farm with finds from the fields and hedgerows. When the others left school and started work, one of them kept collecting and widened his interest to anything connected with the village and its families, encouraged by two teachers at Ashdon school.

The so-called Hill Farm Collection kept growing and outgrew three successive buildings. In 1995 it was decided to protect it for the future: the private collection became Ashdon Village Museum, a committee was formed and the museum gained charitable status. In 1999 the present building was bought with money given by local supporters.

The museum is housed in the former Labour Party rooms, a low white building from the early twentieth century with one main display room and a small tearoom at the back. It tells the history of Ashdon mainly through objects shown in cases with text panels, together with life-size figures that bring trades and events to life. Today it is a registered charity run entirely by volunteers, with no paid staff.

Highlights

• Displays of everyday village life, from farming to the post office
• A blacksmith's forge display with sound effects
• Wartime displays, including an air raid warden
• Self-guided QR code tour of the village
• Volunteer-run tearoom with homemade cakes

Permanent exhibition

• Ashdon village life collection – Displays of objects and life-size figures on village trades, farming, a gaol, weddings, funerals and the Second World War, based on the collection begun in the 1970s.

Founded

1995

Operated by

Ashdon Village Museum (registered charity no. 1070499)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

General admission is free and donations are welcome. A small charge may be made for some events and activities and for group visits or outreach services outside normal hours. Refreshments can only be paid for in cash.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The main entrance is broadly level with a few small lintels, followed by a short corridor. Wheelchair access is possible but doorways are slightly tight for manoeuvring, and there is a 90-degree corner between the museum and the tearoom. Almost everything is on one ground-floor level; the staircase at the back leads to a non-public room. The single toilet at the back is a large space with room for a carer but has no special equipment. Floors are carpeted and level, a chair can be brought to any part of the museum on request, and magnifying glasses and torches are available. Lighting is artificial only and the building is often cool. Assistance dogs and well-behaved pets are welcome. A written access statement is available on the museum website.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Baby changing facilities: not available

The museum publishes craft and activity ideas for children for the school holidays on its website. There are no baby changing facilities.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on the main road through the village, a few miles north of Saffron Walden; the postcode CB10 2HF works for satnav. A noticeboard is put out when the museum is open, otherwise there is no signage. Visitors can also park elsewhere in the village and walk in.

Amenities & dining

• Café

A small volunteer-run tearoom serves tea and cakes and has two partly covered outdoor seating areas. Cash only.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit