Kingswood Heritage Museum

About the museum

Kingswood Heritage Museum stands on the site of William Champion's brass works at Warmley, where in the 18th century he developed the first commercial production of zinc in Europe. Champion made a fortune from his process and later lost it. The surviving buildings include the tower of an industrial windmill used to drive machinery rather than to grind corn, and part of a very large semi-underground ice house that could hold about 250 tons of ice.

The museum is housed in the main building of the site and is staffed solely by volunteers; it has received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. Its galleries cover the industries and social history of Kingswood and the area around it. Topics include the medieval royal hunting forest, coal mining, boot and shoe making, Douglas motorcycles, the Kleen-E-Ze brush company and life in the Second World War, with a Victorian parlour and a 1950s living room and kitchen.

The Stonehill Collection shows finds from a Romano-British settlement uncovered during ring road works, and a model of Champion's zinc process explains how the works operated. William Champion's Gardens and Grottoes next door are now run separately by the Friends of William Champion's Garden.

Highlights

• Site of the first commercial zinc production in Europe
• Tower of an industrial windmill and part of a large ice house
• Displays on coal mining, boot making and Douglas motorcycles
• Victorian parlour and 1950s living room
• Run entirely by volunteers

Permanent exhibitions

• William Champion and the Warmley works – A gallery on Champion's brass and zinc works, with a model of his zinc process, the windmill tower and the ice house.
• Industry and work in Kingswood – Displays on coal mining, boot and shoe making, Douglas motorcycles and the Kleen-E-Ze brush company.
• Home life in Kingswood – A Victorian parlour, a 1950s living room and kitchen and a Second World War Anderson shelter.

Founded

1991

Operated by

Kingswood Museum (registered charity no. 1006501)

Admission & discounts

Friends of Kingswood Museum need to show a valid membership card. Organised school visits cost £2 per child, and accompanying adults are not charged.

Accessibility

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

The museum can accommodate standard and small motorised wheelchairs, and staff are on hand to help. The toilets are wheelchair accessible. There are dedicated disabled parking spaces in the museum car park, and visitors are advised to phone before a visit with specific questions. Assistance dogs are welcome; other dogs are not allowed in the museum buildings.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

The museum describes its displays as enjoyable for all the family.

Getting there & parking

The site lies south of the A420 and borders the Ring Road (A4174) and Tower Road North, and the entrance is on Tower Lane. The museum is a 4 minute cycle or a 12 minute walk from the Bristol to Bath Railway Path (Ashcombe Crescent and Thirlmere Court exit).

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The museum has a café serving drinks, cakes and light refreshments, and a bookshop selling local history books.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit