Magdalen College Museum

About the museum

The museum is in the upper hall of a brick school building in Wainfleet that William Waynflete founded in 1484. Waynflete was born in the town, became Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor, and founded Magdalen College, Oxford. He set up the school to prepare boys for his Oxford college, and the building, now a scheduled monument, was modelled on Tattershall Castle, with a castle-like front and a church-like rear.

The school stayed in use for centuries and closed in 1933. The ground floor is now a community library and hub with a tea room and a walled garden, and volunteers run the museum on the first floor. In the winter of 2002 to 2003 the upper hall was altered to show more of its original character, and later internal walls were removed to let in more light.

The displays cover the history of Wainfleet, its schools and everyday life, with school records, photographs and household objects. The best-known item is the original Wainfleet town charter of 1457, which is on loan from Magdalen College. The hall also has a large Victorian schoolmaster's desk, fireplaces with Magdalen crests and a painted timber roof. A recording project called Wainfleet Voices collects memories of residents and of the school, and audio descriptions of selected exhibits can be played at the press of a button.

Highlights

• Original Wainfleet town charter of 1457
• Upper hall of a 15th-century school and scheduled monument
• Victorian schoolmaster's desk and painted timber roof
• School records, photographs and household objects
• Tea room and walled garden on the ground floor

Permanent exhibitions

• Wainfleet Town Charter of 1457 – The original town charter with its seal, shown in the upper hall on loan from Magdalen College.
• Local history of Wainfleet and its schools – School records, photographs, household objects and recorded memories of residents.

Operated by

The Magdalen Museum Community Hub (volunteers)

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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 ground floor with the library, tea room and hub is wheelchair friendly and has an accessible toilet. The museum is on the first floor and is reached by a spiral staircase of 18 steps with handrails on both sides. Disabled parking and assistance dogs were listed for the Heritage Open Days in 2025.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The building is in the centre of Wainfleet, in St John Street near the railway crossing and Silver Street.

Amenities & dining

• Café

The tea room and Victorian walled garden on the ground floor are open whenever the library is open.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The accessible ground-floor space can be hired for events, with optional catering.

Plan your visit