Chedham's Yard

About the museum

For about a century and a half, from the 1820s until the mid-1960s, the Chedham family worked this yard in Wellesbourne, passing it from father to son. Unusually for its time, the yard housed both wheelwrights, who made wooden wheels, and blacksmiths, who made the metalwork for carts and fitted the iron tyres. Bill Chedham was the last family member to work there.

The village parish council bought the yard from Bill Chedham in the early 2000s, followed by years of archaeological survey and planning. In 2006 the project won the BBC television competition Restoration Village, which opened access to funding of up to £1 million. Buildings were repaired, a visitor centre was added and finds and tools were catalogued, and the yard opened to the public in 2012.

Today the site is run by a charitable trust. Some equipment from the period 1820 to 1970 has been returned to the workshops to show how the Chedhams worked, and the garden has matured since opening. The forge is lit for demonstrations and wood turners show how wheel hubs and other items were made.

Highlights

• Restored wheelwright and blacksmith workshops
• Weekly forge and wood-turning demonstrations
• Visitor centre with exhibits and two films about the restoration and the Chedham family
• Winner of the BBC Restoration Village competition in 2006
• Café with indoor and outdoor seating

Founded

2012

Operated by

Chedham's Yard Trust

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry on Saturdays is free and needs no booking.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• 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

Most areas can be reached by hand-controlled and powered wheelchairs, but the interior of the forge and wheelwright shop is restricted. The access drive is loose gravel and surfaces are uneven inside and out. The café and toilets are wheelchair friendly. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout, with water bowls outside the visitor centre. There is no parking on site; Blue Badge holders can be dropped off in Chestnut Square, about 100m from the entrance. The access guide was last updated some years ago.

Kids & families

Entry is free on Saturdays for all the family, and the café has high chairs.

Getting there & parking

Church Walk leads off Chestnut Square in Wellesbourne. There is an area for securing bicycles.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

Café serving coffee, tea, hot chocolate, soft drinks, cake and biscuits, with some gluten-free choices and indoor and outdoor seating. The visitor centre sells books, booklets and items made at the yard.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The yard can be hired for groups such as art or photography classes, and the visitor centre suits small meetings. Charges are on application.

Plan your visit