One of two introductory films which you can watch in our auditorium featuring the wonderful David Attenborough as narrator
Watch the full film ๐ youtu.be/ev4mm_f6C_c?...
#Archive30 #SoundAndVision #WaybackWednesday
Currently the banner is stored within our temperature controlled stores, to prevent further damage to the banner but we would love to get it restored at some point in the future, if and when funding for the project can be secured.
This work has to be done by specialists as it will be a long and painstaking process which will cost quite a lot of money. Sadly, projects like this would not be suitable for things like the TV show The Repair Shop or similar.
Originally donated to the Museum Resource Centre at Standlake by a Mr Pain from Wantage in the late 1990s, it was given to us in 2022.
Weโre thrilled to be able to add it to our collection, but as you can see from the photos, it is in need of some extensive conservation work.
a collage of 6 photos showing various sections of a cloth embroidered banner
This gorgeous banner is the perfect example of why conservation is so important to help preserve our history.
The Church of England Working Menโs Society banner is 140 years old, dating back to 1886!
#ArchiveConservation #Archive30
brick building, door on the corner with a smartly dressed Victorian man stood in the open doorway
The corner of Market Place and Newbury Street in 1904.
Walter & Co were a watch, clock and jewellery shop which opened in 1891 and closed in 1939.
Today this is Simpsons Estate Agents.
#WaybackWednesday
wooden box with two layers contain a variety of different objects
This box of curiosities was collected by Dr Gains as a child in Brightwalton between 1870 and 1899.
It contains shells, nuts, seeds, glass, pins, rocks, buttons, teeth, carved ivory, and more!
#Archive30 #UnusualArchives
a bowler type hat with flowers and ribbons
This very colourful hat was worn by the Icknield Way Morris Men Fool 'Little Bob'
The Fool is an integral part of any performance, providing a link between the dancers and the audience, persuading them to donate to the charity collection.
#Archive30 #ColurfulArchives
very large group of men in uniforms
It is believed this large group of men is likely to be Wantage Home Guard during World War II.
The photo was owned by Harry Glaysher who was part of the 5th Berkshire Battalion Home Guard in Wantage.
Do you recognise any one in this photo and can help us put names to faces?
#Archive30 #SomethingBig
large crowds of people some carrying wreaths
A wreath party marching towards St Peter & St Paul Church Wantage for the funeral of Lt Napier Burnett Lindsay in 1909.
This was such a big funeral that the whole community came to a standstill.
#Archive30 #CommunityArchives
Read more about this photo ๐ facebook.com/valeanddownlandmuseum
group of boys running a race
Sports day, probably at King Alfred's School #Wantage on 3rd June 1946.
The winner of the race was David East, second was Lester Piggott, who went on to be a top #jockey, and one of the boys in the background is Harry Glaysher
#Archive30 #SportsArchive
both sides of a postcard, the image on the postcard has a road with an old car and people. the street is lined with timber houses and trees
99 years ago on 15th April 1927, Floss sent a sweet Easter message to Mrs Cowley at 5 Crawborough, Charlbury
"Just to wish you all a very happy Easter. Floss"
The postcard features a lovely photo of the Main Street in Lockinge
#WaybackWednesday #Archive30 #ArchivePast
Slightly blurry photograph of Sarah Churchill sitting on grass with her dog, a spaniel, play biting her hand
Today's #Archive30 theme is #ArchiveAnimals!
One of Clementine Churchill's photograph albums contains this small picture of her daughter Sarah Churchill (dancer and actress) with her dog "Trouble". He looks like he's living up to his name!
4 black and white photographs of a cat a two kittens playing in a wicker basket.
We have so many #ArchiveAnimals in our collections that it was hard to choose which to feature today. In the end we went with Dorothy Kaminski's cat and kittens as they were too cute to resist ๐ #Archive30
๐ท D/EWN/F99
a group of women and children in Victorian dress, standing on grass with baskets and horse and carts around them
A bank holiday outing to the #Uffington White Horse Hill in around 1900
Women and children out for a picnic on the beautiful landmark which is believed to have been created during the late Bronze Age or early Iron Age
Photo by prominent Oxford photographer Henry Taunt
#Archive30 #ArchiveAnimals
Our model railway fits both #PopularItem & #SomethingSmall for #Archive30
It is most definitely our most popular item and has lots of small pieces
Two very dedicated volunteers have taken on the project of updating the model to reflect the changes to the local railway from 1920s to 1980s
long floral dress on a mannequin
Catching up on #Archive30 with No.3 #ArchiveFashion
A beautiful grey/blue silk taffeta sack dress dates back to the 1700s but was repurposed for the Lockinge Revels which was hosted by Lord & Lady Wantage in 1885
Most of the buttons on the front of the dress are original, just one has been replaced
three story building, bottom level is a shop
Today's #Archive30 is #ArchiveBuildings and this one has not changed much in the 91yrs since this photo was taken in 1935.
Arbery & Son in #Wantage Market Place, decorated with garlands to celebrate the silver jubilee of King George V
The building was built in the 1600s and today is a Costa Coffee
The Library is available Mon-Sat but we recommend contacting our historian Trevor before visiting to get the most out of your visit
Find out more valeanddownlandmuseum.org.uk/library/
shelves of books
It's the first day of #Archive30 and today is #YourArchive
this is a very small section of our Research Library, full of interesting & useful books & documents to research local family history, & the history of local buildings and businesses
Metal box provided employment for hundreds of people, did you work there or know some who did? We would love to hear from you and have a chat, comment below or send us a message to get in touch
#WaybackWednesday
They had a purpose-built laboratory in Grove on the old airfield, for their cutting-edge Research and Development Division which attracted scientists and engineers from across the globe to our local area.
a flatbed lorry with metal cans attached to the edges of the flatbed. 4 adults and two children riding on the flatbed
The Metal Box float at the 1987 Hospital Carnival.
Metal Box manufactured containers for use in the food and drinks industries. From the 1930s up to the 1980s, Metal Box were one of the largest manufacturers in the world producing metal packaging at their 41 factories across the UK
#WaybackWednesday
poster with three lego mini figures and a large lego heart
There's still time (and spaces) to book for tomorrow's LEGOยฎ Club!
Let the kids enjoy an hour of building while you have a relaxing cuppa in the Museum Coffee Shopโ
Wednesday 1st April
ยฃ4 per child, please book in advance online bit.ly/3NDJPKN
a horse hair wig on a stand
William Dowell Wasbrough always had a #GoodHairDay when wearing his coroners wig!
Made by Ravenscroft in 1822 it was obviously well looked after because 204 years later and it still looks great
William was a solicitor, church warden, town commissioner and coroner in #Wantage for many years
We have a jam-packed two weeks this Easter at the museum
Loads for kids to do; #LEGOยฎ Club, Art Workshop, Splendid Spring family craft day and #Easter crafts
Book tickets online www.ticketsource.co.uk/vale-downland-museum
a steam engine on a large cart
Mobile electricity generator made by Wantage Engineering Company around 1900.
#WaybackWednesday
museum manager Lisa Gale with Ben Fogel in front of a branded wall
We are really pleased to share that we won the Small Business Britain Green Growth Award 2026! ๐
It was an honour to be on the list of 100 small business shortlisted, but to win was beyond our expectations!
Thanks to @whitehorsedc.bsky.social and others for funding our decarbonisation projects
Just 4 short days to go!
Visit the ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐'๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐ in the Museums Barn Gallery this Saturday to pick up an absolute bargain ๐งต๐งถ
Saturday 14th March 10am - 2pm
Free admission
Cash and cards accepted
25% of all sales goes to the museum
