Witney and District Museum
Free, volunteer-run museum on Witney High Street telling the story of the town and its villages, from wool and blankets to brewing and gloves.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Witney and District Museum is an independent museum run by volunteers as a registered charity. It opened in 1996 in a Cotswold stone building just off the High Street and tells the story of Witney and the surrounding villages over roughly a thousand years. In 2022 it was named Heritage Organisation of the Year by Witney Town Council.
The collection reflects the trades that shaped the town. Wool and blanket making is the best known, but the museum also holds material on glove making in the Newland area, which grew from a factory founded around 1830, and on the Wychwood (Eagle) Brewery, which closed in 2023 after about 180 years of brewing in the town.
The ground floor shows archaeological finds and displays on St Mary's Church, Witney railway station, school life, glove making and brewing. Upstairs, the Bartlett Taylor Gallery is used for themed displays, including blanket making, local photography and everyday working life. A programme of talks, walks and tours runs through the year, and the museum offers school sessions with object handling boxes.
Highlights
- Free entry in the centre of Witney
- Ground-floor displays on archaeology, St Mary's Church, the railway station, school life, glove making and brewing
- Objects from the former Wychwood (Eagle) Brewery
- Blanket-making story in the first-floor Bartlett Taylor Gallery
- Object handling boxes and sessions for schools
Permanent exhibition
- Ground-floor local history displays – Archaeological finds and displays on St Mary's Church, Witney railway station, school life, glove making and brewing.
- Founded
- 1996
- Operated by
- Witney and District Museum (volunteer-run registered charity)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Entry is free. The museum relies on donations, which are welcome.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom: no information
- 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
The ground floor is reached by a small ramp. The first floor, including the Bartlett Taylor Gallery, can only be reached by stairs.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Buses run to Witney from Oxford, Cheltenham and surrounding villages and small towns.
By car
Free parking
Free public car parks on Woodford Way and Witan Way, a short walk from the museum.
The museum is just off the High Street at the junction with Witan Way, through the archway marked Bartlett Builders. On foot, follow the signs for the town museum from the town centre. what3words: ///lunch.hike.losses.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
There are no public toilets in the museum.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The museum offers sessions for primary and secondary schools and loans object handling boxes. Talks, walks and tours are held on selected dates; check the museum website for the programme. |
