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 ran until the end of August 2025.
At the end of September 2025, we opened our permanent exhibition in the upstairs gallery, Eynsham from Prehistory to the 20th Century. This runs alongside our permanent photographic exhibition, Eynsham Past and Present, in the downstairs gallery. Read more about our current and past exhibitions here.
The museum’s opening hours are weekends and bank holidays from 11am to 4pm. Entry is free; donations are very welcome.
_____________________________
News
April 2026
The museum is now open, and we are happy to say that our first weekend of reopening was a great success! Do come and visit our exhibitions, Eynsham from Prehistory to the 20th Century (in the upstairs gallery) and Eynsham Past and Present (in the downstairs gallery) at weekends and on bank holidays from 11am to 4pm. We can also open on other days for group visits; if you would like to arrange a group visit, please email us on info@eynshammuseum.org.uk.
Our exhibition now includes two new items on loan from the Museum Resources Centre. A piece of 13th-century stained glass from Eynsham Abbey shows the head of a saint, probably St Andrew. An iconic 14th-century pilgrim’s plaque (14th century) is thought to depict St Thomas of Canterbury holding a cross or crozier and riding a donkey or ass back to the cathedral from his exile in France. Both items were discovered in the excavation of 1989-92. The pilgrim plaque actually features in a painting called ‘Eynsham Treasures’ by Jane Tomlinson, which features on the front cover of the latest (April–May) edition of Eynsham News.
We have received financial support from four local businesses, which has enabled us to display 21st-century high-tech artefacts, all manufactured in Eynsham. These complete our exhibition of Eynsham’s long and distinguished history from pre-history to the present day.
Our highly popular annual Cake and Book Sale fundraising event will be held on 25 April, 10am–4pm, in the Bartholomew Room and in the Square. Do come along and buy delicious goodies and your next good read(s) – all in support of the work of the museum. If you would like to donate cakes, please bring them along on the day. And if you have books to donate, please bring them to the museum on Friday 24 April from 4–6pm. Thank you!
_____________________________
** 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).
- April 2026This sign comes from the front of the W. Sawyer and Sons shop, which traded for 115 years from Newland Street, Eynsham. Established in 1856, it was… Read more: April 2026
