Heritage centre | Winchcombe Museum

Our Mission

'Our museum seeks to encourage and promote further interest, understanding and involvement in the historical heritage of Winchcombe and the surrounding area through its unique collections and archives for the benefit of both the local community and visitors.'

Welcome to Winchcombe Museum

The Museum is now closed for the season, and will re-open in early April 2020.

During the closure period the builders will be transforming the ground floor of the Town Hall building. For those passing by, the first thing they will notice is that the 'stocks', which have been outside the Town Hall for many years, have gone. They have been moved for safe-keeping whilst the building work is in process – many thanks to the Winchcombe Rotary who gave great assistance with this.

Building work commenced towards the end of November to glaze in the Undercroft – the covered area between the pillars. This will create a new area for the Museum entrance and the Tourist Information Centre. A new lift is also be installed to ensure that everyone will have easy access up to the first floor. In addition we are installing a fully disabled toilet, so we can better meet the needs of all of our visitors, young or old.

We are still needing to raise more funds so we can fit out the new areas.

The second phase of the work, to renovate the first floor will be the next challenge. Fund raising for this is still ongoing and your valued help and donation would be very much appreciated. Your donation can be boosted by 25p of Gift Aid for every £1 you donate if you use Gift Aid.

In order to Gift Aid your donation you must complete the form which you can print off from the Gift Aid Form - so just follow the link.

Explore the museum’s interesting collections and trace the fascinating history of Winchcombe and the surrounding area.

Winchcombe Museum is a small 'accredited museum' administered by Winchcombe Town Trust and run entirely by volunteers. It is located in the Old Town Hall at the cross roads of North Street and High Street.

It contains a varied folk and local history collection highlighting the history of Winchcombe and its people through the ages.

Displays include the excavations of Belas Knap, a Neolithic burial site, local industries (particularly Winchcombe Pottery), and the history of tools used locally from Anglo-Saxon times until mechanisation.

The museum also houses an interesting collection of British and International Police Uniforms - both historic and modern.

The museum is family friendly and offers a warm welcome to everyone. For older children we have quiz sheets designed to improve their local knowledge, as well as opportunities to handle some of the exhibits. For younger children we have a sandpit where they can dig for fossils, gemstones or dinosaurs, and a play village. Downstairs, there is a lively temporary exhibition programme – please look at the events page for further details.

We have a stairlift, but the museum is not suitable for wheelchair users.

The museum is totally volunteer run and we have some exciting plans for the future to bring it up to 21st century requirements and to protect its future.

Please take time to visit our other pages, especially THE MUSEUM NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT page where you will find more information and the means to make a donation, offer help, or get in touch: