Uncovering the history of an ancient village
Eynsham Museum and Heritage Centre (EMHC) was established in 2021. Our aims are: to showcase some of the wonderful objects that bring to life Eynsham’s long and distinguished history; nurture pride in the community for its roots; and provide inspiration for future generations.
In March 2023, Eynsham Parish Council granted EMHC a lease on the Bartholomew Room in the Market Square. In autumn 2023, we held our first exhibition, Eynsham’s Lost Railway, which was so popular that it needed an extended run.
Our next exhibition, Rural Eynsham, ran from 13 July to 27 October 2024, and was very well-received by villagers and visitors to Eynsham alike. Alongside this, our popular photographic exhibition, Eynsham Past and Present, gave a fascinating glimpse into the changing face of the village.
We reopened both exhibitions on 5 April 2025, and they will run until the end of October 2025. Opening hours are weekends and bank holidays from 11am to 4pm.
In the meantime, we are working our way towards our permanent exhibition in the upstairs gallery. Along with our own collection of historical artefacts, we are hoping to borrow Eynsham-related objects from other museums and from the Museum Resources Centre in Standlake.
_____________________________
News
July 2025
We have had good news from the Doris Field Trust. They have agreed to give us a £500 grant to install a monitor and computer on the ground floor of the museum. This will enable people with mobility issues to view displays, including videos, that are displayed in the main exhibition space on the first floor.
Bob McIntyre has kindly donated two Apple Macintosh computers. One of these will be positioned in the ground floor room as soon as we have purchased other equipment needed and made a video with commentary on the main exhibition displays.
We have received an interesting donation from a local artist and potter, Paul Drew. The ceramic plate (see below) is imprinted with a map that shows the Bartholomew Room in the Square.
We thank everyone who donates items to the Museum, and to the organisations who give us grants. We really are very grateful.
In other news, new lighting in the first floor room will be installed on 30–31 July. And, later in the summer, we will be receiving and setting out new displays and cabinets.
_____________________________
** For previous news items, please go to the News archive. **
Object of the month
For more about Object of the Month, click on the next link (date heading).
- July 2025This is a detail of Thomas Pride’s Map of ‘Ensham’ from 1782. It shows the individual strips in the Open Field system and the enclosure of some… Read more: July 2025
