Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings

Over het museum

Avoncroft Museum was set up to save historic buildings that were threatened with demolition. It opened to the public in 1967 after a mid-15th-century medieval town house from the centre of Bromsgrove had been rescued and rebuilt on the site. This was the first building in the collection.

Since then the museum has taken in more than 30 buildings and structures from Worcestershire and the neighbouring counties. They include a Tudor timber-framed inn from Shrewsbury, a threshing barn from Herefordshire, a post windmill from Warwickshire, a toll house, a forge and a Victorian iron mission church. A medieval roof from Guesten Hall, once part of the monastic buildings of Worcester, was saved when a Worcester church was demolished in 1969, and a new hall was built to display it.

The collection reaches into the 20th century with a prefabricated post-war house of the type built to ease the housing shortage after the Second World War, and the National Collection of Telephone Kiosks. Together the buildings show 700 years of how people in the West Midlands lived and worked. The museum relies on volunteer demonstrators, and it also keeps a library and archive on historic buildings and building techniques.

Hoogtepunten

• Medieval town house, the first building rescued for the museum
• Guesten Hall roof, a 14th-century timber roof from Worcester
• String of Horses, a Tudor timber-framed inn that now houses the tea room
• Post windmill and working forge
• National Collection of Telephone Kiosks with the TARDIS
• Post-war prefab house

Vaste collectie

• Historic building collection – More than 30 historic buildings and structures dating from the 14th to the mid-20th century, rebuilt on the site, including a medieval town house, a windmill and a prefab.
• National Collection of Telephone Kiosks – A collection of telephone kiosks from different periods with more than 25 interactive exhibits, including a TARDIS.

Opgericht

1963

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Prices are for the 2026 day ticket, booked online. Special events such as the Home Front 1940s weekend carry an extra fee. Annual membership is also available for students (£32), small families (£65) and large families (£95).

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: niet aanwezig
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The 19-acre site has wide, hard-surfaced, mostly flat paths with benches and one steep hill. Manual wheelchairs can be borrowed on request. The shop and tea room have ramped entrances, and most historic buildings have ramps, but some have steps, narrow doorways or only a ground floor. Blue Badge bays are next to the Visitor Welcome building. Many buildings can be explored by touch, and touch tours can be arranged in advance. Large-print maps and menus are available on request. Information panels are written.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Doe- en voelstations
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk
• Verschoonruimte
• Speeltuin / speelhoek

Two playgrounds, a miniature railway run by a model engineering society (extra £1 per ride, on selected days), interactive displays in the telephone kiosk collection and family events in school holidays. Baby changing is available in the accessible toilets by the tea room and in Guesten Hall. Pushchair access matches wheelchair access, with some stepped building entrances.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

About two miles south of Bromsgrove, signposted from M5 junction 5 and M42 junction 1. Sat nav postcode B60 4JR. The neighbouring Avoncroft Arts Centre is a separate site. By canal, moor at the Queen's Head pub and walk up Sugarbrook Lane (about 10 minutes).

Service & horeca

• Café
• Restaurant: niet aanwezig
• Museumwinkel

Tea Room and Parlour Tea Room in the historic String of Horses building, serving sandwiches, soup, hot snacks, cakes and cream teas. The museum shop sells books, gifts and locally made items. Picnic benches in the grounds. Free wifi is mentioned only for conference bookings.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Zakelijke evenementen
• Bruiloften / trouwceremonies

Tot 180 personen.

New Guesten Hall holds up to 120 guests for ceremonies and meals, with 60 more for an evening reception. The Long Room suits 20 to 40 people. Conference and event spaces are available for 10 to 180 people. The miniature railway can also be hired.

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