On Sunday 25th August 2025, 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 of people came to hear how the Close and surrounding houses have changed over the centuries. As early as 1447 this area was used …
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 2,000 hives. He married Violetta in 1901 in Witney and they moved to Sandford Mount in 1919. His whole family were involved in the business …
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, women and children gathered in their best clothes for a happy day out. Yet very soon tragedy struck. As a punt loaded with children and …
At Charlbury Museum on Saturday 28th October 2023, the Cotswold Line Promotion Group (CLPG) presented to the museum a nameplate from a former Great Western Railway High Speed Train. The nameplate was provided by the CLPG in 2003 both to celebrate the life of Sir Peter Parker, the former Chairman of the British Railways Board, …
Earlier this year, the museum was very fortunate to be given a beautiful antique clock made here in Charlbury by James Street (1799-1836). The longcase clock with its decorative painted dial, signed Street, Charlbury, is a splendid addition to the collection. It has spent its whole life in Oxfordshire and was given as a wedding …
We have a new sign! Created by local stone carver, Ben Williams, it is carved in York stone and features a beautifully carved gauntlet, an appropriate image from Charlbury’s historic gloving trade. The sign was commissioned by the museum in memory of Jennifer Bartlett (1935-2020). Jennifer was born in the town and had a long …
Our most recent exhibition, now closed, featured found items discovered by local metal detectorists in fields close to Charlbury and other pieces were discovered in houses and gardens in Charlbury. Next year the museum plans to have a special display shelf devoted to finds. Neil Pakenham-Walsh has generously donated many of his pieces dug up in …