Talk: Landscapes & Gardens in the novels of Jane Austen
The first of Bradford on Avon Museum’s series of joint talks with Bradford Preservation Trust. Professor Timothy Mowl of Bristol University, leading expert on garden history, will talk about Jane Austen and her remarks on landscapes and gardens in her novels, in this 250th anniversary of her birth.
The talk is on the 8th May at 7.30pm at the United Church in St....
Read MoreMuseum AGM 2025
The Museum’s Annual General Meeting for 2025 will take place on Thursday 3rd April at 7:30pm in the Library Meeting Room. All are welcome.
Links to the Agenda for the 2025 AGM, and Minutes of the 2024 AGM, are given below:
Annual General Meeting 2025 Agenda (PDF – opens in new tab)
Annual General Meeting 2024 Minutes (PDF – opens in new...
Read MoreWinter closure 2024-5
The Museum has now closed for its customary short winter period. As usual, we hope to do some deep cleaning, touching up the paintwork, replace worn or tattered labels and generally refresh the Museum. This is also the only real opportunity in the year in which it it is possible to get things out, spread them about and think about what needs to be done.
We hope to see you after...
Read MoreDiscussion Group talk: Somersetshire Coal Canal – An update on the origins, recent past and current restoration.
A summary of the history of this interesting local canal and work in progress, led by Derrick Hunt
Wednesday 4th December 2024 at 7.30pm in the Library meeting room.
Discussion Group covers a wide range of subjects, and if you haven’t been along to a session yet, do try it out.The meetings take place on the first Wednesday of each month except January and August, at...
Read MoreDiscussion Group talk: A history of Bradford floods
Bradford has probably always been afflicted with flooding of the River Avon. Danny O’Callaghan will lead the November Discussion Group talk on the subject on Wednesday 6th November.
The meetings take place on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm in the Library Meeting Room, and are FREE to members. Non-members can attend one session before being asked to join. If you...
Read MoreDiscussion Group Talk: Thomas Fuller, designer of Bradford on Avon Town Hall & national architect of Canada
Julian Orbach, architectural historian and Museum Trustee, will be delving into the life and works of architect Thomas Fuller (1823-1898), including Bradford’s Town Hall and Canada’s Parliament building in Ottawa.
Wednesday 4th September 2024 at 7.30pm in the Library meeting room.
Discussion Group covers a wide range of subjects, and if you haven’t been...
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Discussion Group Talk: The Village of Holt
Rob Arkell, who is a resident of the village and has carried out archaeological investigations there, will talk about some aspects of Holt.
Wednesday 3rd July 2024 at 7.30pm in the Library meeting room.
Discussion Group covers a wide range of subjects, and if you haven’t been along to a session yet, do try it out.The meetings take place on the first Wednesday of each...
Read MoreDiscussion Group talk: An update on the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Wiltshire
Sophie Hawke, the Finds Liaison Officer for the County and a former Trustee of this Museum, will tell us about some of the interesting archaeological finds that have been submitted for recording.
Wednesday 5th June at 7.30 in the Library meeting room.
Discussion Group covers a wide range of subjects, and if you haven’t been along to a session yet, do try it out.The...
Read MoreDiscussion Group talk Cancelled -speaker unwell
The topic for the May meeting, led by Roy Canham, will be the excavations at Horton House in Church Street that were carried out by the late Adrian Powell in 2000 and the beginnings of Saxon Bradford. Work on writing up these excavations has been undertaken by the Museum Research Group and Roy would like to take this opportunity to summarise progress to date. Hope you can join...
Read MoreDiscussion Group talk: The Study of Medieval roof tiles and other roof furniture.
Jane Mann and Becky Clarke have been studying medieval ceramic roof tiles and other parts of roof-coverings from archaeological sites around Wiltshire. Not Just plain tiles, but the more complex tiles that lined the ridges of roofs, usually ornately carved and glazed. They will be joined by historian Martyn Whittock who will give a short history of the medieval Clarendon Palace near...
Read MoreSpecial Exhibition: Eric Walrond, a Harlem Renaissance writer in 1940s Bradford on Avon
Saturday 16th March – Sunday 7th April, 10am – 4pm daily at the West Barn, Barton Farm Admission free
Bradford on Avon Museum, in conjunction with the Bradford on Avon Preservation Trust, is pleased to announce our special exhibition for 2024: Eric Walrond, a Harlem Renaissance writer in 1940s Bradford on Avon.
Regarded as a major literary figure of...
Read MoreDiscussion Group: list of talks for 2024
Discussion Group covers a wide range of subjects, and if you haven’t been along to a session yet, do try it out.
The meetings take place on the first Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm in the Library Meeting Room, and are FREE to members. Non-members can attend one session before being asked to join. If you know of someone who isn’t a member, do bring them along –...
Read MoreDiscussion Group: A selective history of Broughton Gifford
Wednesday 7th February, 7:30pm in the Library Meeting Room
Our speaker for this meeting is Discussion Group regular, Rob Arkell. Rob’s talks are always fascinating and thoroughly researched. Following on from the success of last year’s ‘A Selective History of Monkton Farleigh’, in this session, Rob will be leading us through ...
Read MoreDecember Discussion Group Meeting: Recent Work at the Tithe Barn
Our next meeting is 7-30pm, Wednesday 6th December in the Library Meeting Room. John Samways has kindly agreed to report on recent work at the Barton Farm Tithe Barn. Look forward to seeing...
Read MoreAnnual Fundraiser Guest Lecture: Analysis of human remains from archaeological sites
Time Team and Wessex Archaeology osteologist Jacqueline McKinley will present this year’s lecture at St Margaret’s Hall, Bradford on Avon on Wednesday 22nd November. She is one of the leading experts in this country on osteoarchaeology, the study of human remains and on burial rites, with experience in the field dating back to 1977.
The bar opens at 7.00 pm and the talk...
Read MoreNovember Discussion Group meeting: Bearfield Church
Robert Beesley will present a summary of his work at Bearfield Church, where he has been examining the burial ground and baptism records. He will also outline the history of the church and its congregation.
7-30pm on Wednesday 1st November, in the Library Meeting Room as usual.
We hope you can join...
Read MoreDiscussion Group: Researching and portraying the development of local landscape, both rural and urban
Wednesday 6th September, 7:30pm in the Library Meeting Room
Our next Discussion Group meeting will be led by Roy Canham, former Museum trustee, former County Archaeologist for Wiltshire, and regular Discussion Group contributor, and I know it will be full of Roy’s trademark energy, enthusiasm and knowledge.
The topic will be the Development of the...
Read MoreCANCELLED – Heritage Open Days – Bradford on Avon Town Walk 2023
Unfortunately, we’ve had to cancel the Bradford on Avon Town Walk on Saturday and Sunday 9th/10th September, because of the forecast of record high temperatures. Taking a large group for a walk in temperatures that might hit 30°C no longer feels like the safe and responsible thing to do.
We’re very sorry for cancelling at short notice. We hope to be able to reschedule the...
Read MoreDiscussion Group: Chapel Delights – The architectural pleasures of nonconformist chapels
Wednesday 5th July, 7:30pm in the Library Meeting Room
Our next Discussion Group meeting is on Wednesday 5th July at 7:30pm in the Library Meeting Room, where James Holden will be discussing:
Chapel Delights – The architectural pleasures of nonconformist chapels, an illustrated talk with examples from Bradford on Avon and...
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