Charlbury Museum and Heritage Centre
Volunteer-run museum in a five-room building in the centre of Charlbury, showing the history of this Oxfordshire market town.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Charlbury Museum grew out of a historical exhibition held in the Corner House in March 1949, which drew more than 650 visitors in three days. The Charlbury Society was formed a few months later, and objects lent for the exhibition formed the basis of a small museum in the attics of the Corner House. In 1962 it moved to the ground floor, into two outhouses, and a former boiler house and coal store were added soon after. A modern extension opened in 2002 to house a restored Victorian wagon, and a memorial garden was laid out in 2003.
The five rooms tell the story of this old market town on the edge of the Cotswolds and the Wychwood forest. Topics include Stone Age arrowheads, the market charter granted in 1256, the royal forest of Wychwood, centuries of farming and the glove-making trade that grew in the 19th century. The museum also holds a large archive of documents and photographs of Charlbury and its people.
The museum is run entirely by volunteers and is a registered charity. It holds UK Museum Accreditation from Arts Council England.
Highlights
- Five rooms on the history of Charlbury
- Restored Victorian South Midlands farm wagon
- Displays on the market charter of 1256 and the Wychwood forest
- Glove-making and blacksmith's forge displays
- Large archive of local photographs and documents
Permanent exhibitions
- History of Charlbury – Five rooms with finds and displays on the town, from Stone Age arrowheads and the medieval market to farming, gloving and local people.
- Victorian wagon – A restored South Midlands bow wagon from around 1880, displayed in the extension opened in 2002.
- Founded
- 1949
- Operated by
- Charlbury Museum and Heritage Centre (registered charity 1200994)
Admission & discounts
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Charlbury station
There are regular bus services to Charlbury every day except Sunday. Charlbury railway station, on the line from London Paddington, is within easy walking distance.
The museum stands beside the Corner House on Market Street in the centre of the town.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
The museum sells local history books and memorabilia, and has a small garden built in 2003 in memory of Gillian Naish.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Private visits outside opening hours can be arranged for a donation of £20 per session for one to four visitors. The volunteers also help with research requests and supply copies of photographs from the archive for private or commercial use. |
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