Conservation
The museum is working towards accreditation which would enable the museum to apply for grants to improve and develop the collection. As part of this, volunteers have been receiving training…
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Charlbury Museum & Heritage Centre
We are now closed for the winter
While we are closed we are busy working on cataloguing our collection, conserving our exhibits and working towards accreditation
We reopen at Easter 2026 and look forward to welcoming you back then
Our five rooms are full of exhibits and information revealing the history of this ancient market town. Through Stone Age arrow heads, the granting of a market charter in 1256, the history of the extensive royal forest of Wychwood, through centuries of farming and the growth of the gloving industry, we tell the story of our streets and buildings and of the people who have lived and worked here through the centuries. As well as items on display, we have a large collection of documents and photographs of Charlbury and its people at work and play.
Towns and communities all need to know the story of their past to foster a sense of belonging and understanding of the place we live in. Small museums can give us glimpse into how people lived their lives in the past, how and why places have changed over the years, and what can be learned from looking at the buildings and environment around us.
The museum is run entirely by volunteers. If you would like to help us in any way, either as a steward when we are open or in any other capacity, we would love to hear from you. Please email
Latest News
The Playing Close has been at the centre of Charlbury life for hundreds of years. But it wasn’t always the tranquil, green space that it is today. In the past… After 75 years as part of the Charlbury Society, the Museum has now become a charity in its own right. We are now registered with the Charity Commission as a… On Sunday 25th August, as part of the Charlbury Arts Festival, the museum organised a walk and talk event exploring the history of the Playing Close. A pleasing number… Christopher Bartlett, and his wife Violetta, were famous honey producers who lived and worked in Charlbury. Before the first world war, at the age of 20, he already had over… The revival in 1924 of the tradition of Beating the Bounds of the parish, not held for thirteen years, attracted a large number of people eager to take part. Men,…
History of the Playing Close
Museum becomes a charity
History of the Playing Close
Christopher Bartlett, Beekeeper
Tradition and Tragedy