We are supported by Chiseldon Parish Council who provide the venue for our museum.

Chiseldon Local History Group

Chiseldon Local History Group was formed to record and preserve objects and information related to the Parish of Chiseldon and where possible to make this
available to the public either through publications or in our museum.

Replica Chiseldon cauldron

Finding the cauldrons

As it might have looked

MARCH 2025 MEETING

Our March meeting is on Wednesday, 19 March 2025 in Holy Cross Church Hall, Butts Road, SN4 0NN at 7.30pm when the subject is 'Nightmare at Scapa Flow' presented by Bob Rogers. The battleship HMS Royal Oak was lost in Scapa Flow, the ‘impregnable’ main anchorage of the Home Fleet, on the night of 13 - 14 October 1939. Scapa Flow was a very well defended anchorage with only seven entry points, four well defended and three undefended but blocked with sunken block ships. The German Navy thought there were many ships at anchor there and decided to attempt a raid. Royal Oak was attacked by submarine U47 and sank within fifteen minutes with the loss of 833 from a crew of 1,234 men and boys. Bob will give us an account of the events leading up to and including the night of the sinking, illustrated with photographs and video accounts from some of the survivors. The wreck is now a designated war grave. In an annual ceremony marking the loss of the ship, Royal Navy divers place a White Ensign underwater at her stern.

If you have not yet purchased your 2025 calendar - sorry but they are all gone!
The calendar will be back again next year so look out for details and order early!
The photographs featured in the 2025 calendar (and 2024) were taken by a very talented local lady. Not sure yet what the subject will be in 2026 but bound to be spectacular if she is involved.

Thank you Claire.

If you enjoy history, particularly local history, why not join Chiseldon Local History Group!
Come and join one of our meetings in Holy Cross Church Hall, Butts Road, Chiseldon, SN4 0NN
at 7.30pm on the third Wednesday of each month (except for August and December).
Annual membership is £20. If you are a visitor, there is a charge of £5 per meeting.

For our programme of speakers, please see Programme page.

Programme

For a list of books and pamphlets for sale please see our Publications page.

Publications

During the months of April to September you can visit our museum in the
Old Chapel, Butts Road, Chiseldon, SN4 0NN,
which is open on Saturday afternoons from 2pm until 4pm.
Entry is free of charge and the building is wheelchair accessible.

We are supported by Chiseldon Parish Council who provide the venue for our museum. Chiseldon Local History Group

Chiseldon Local History Group was formed to record and preserve objects and information related to the Parish of Chiseldon and where possible to make this available to the public either through publications or in our museum.