Churchill & Sarsden Heritage Centre
Tiny heritage centre in the restored chancel of the old church at Churchill, with touch-screen displays on local figures William Smith and Warren Hastings.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Churchill & Sarsden Heritage Centre is housed in the restored chancel of the medieval church of Churchill, which stands on the site of the village destroyed by fire in 1684. When a new All Saints' Church was built in the centre of the village in 1826, the old church fell into disrepair; only the chancel was kept, as a mortuary chapel and to hold memorials, and demolition was threatened in the 1980s.
A preservation society was formed in 1988 to save the last medieval building in the village, and more than £30,000 was spent on restoring the roof and the building. The Heritage Centre opened in the restored chancel in 2001. A Heritage Lottery Fund grant in 2010 paid for building maintenance and better displays, and the centre reopened in April 2011 with touch screens and new exhibits.
The building is only about 15 by 30 feet but uses touch screens to tell the stories of two famous sons of the village, the geologist William Smith (1769-1839), who made the first geological map of Britain, and Warren Hastings (1732-1818), first Governor-General of India, as well as the squire James Langston (1796-1863). The centre also supports family history enquiries and runs a probate documents project.
Highlights
- Touch-screen displays on William Smith, Warren Hastings and James Langston
- Restored chancel of the medieval Churchill church
- Setting overlooking the site of the lost village of Churchill
- Quizzes for children and family history help
- Free admission
Permanent exhibition
- The Earth and the Empire – Touch-screen displays on William Smith, Warren Hastings and the village squire James Langston, the main figures in the story of Churchill.
- Founded
- 2001
- Operated by
- Churchill Old Church Preservation Society (registered charity 1014686)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Admission is free; donations are welcome.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: not available
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Wheelchair access is limited. Seats are provided inside and outside and most displays are in large print. There are no toilets on site. Visits for small groups of visitors with disabilities or special needs can be arranged in advance.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
The centre describes itself as a local history educational resource, with touch screens and a variety of quizzes for children.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Kingham station
The nearest railway station is Kingham, on the London/Oxford to Hereford line.
The centre is on Hastings Hill, 3 miles from Chipping Norton on the B4450, 5 miles from Stow-on-the-Wold and 22 miles north-west of Oxford.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | The centre is small and can only take limited numbers at one time, but visits for small groups can be tailored on request. It also helps with family history queries for Churchill and Sarsden. |
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