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
May 2026 MEETING
​
Our next meeting is on Wednesday, 20 May 2026 in Holy Cross Church Hall, Butts Road, SN4 0NN at 7.30pm. The subject is ‘Wiltshire during the Anarchy’ presented by Nick Baxter. The Anarchy was a 12th Century civil war which resulted in widespread breakdown of law and order across the country. When King Henry I died in 1135 he had no legitimate surviving sons, but wanted to pass the crown to his daughter Empress Matilda. However. She did not have the support of all the nobility and the throne was seized by his nephew Stephen of Blois. The war lasted for eleven years until peace was agreed at the Treaty of Wallingford. The terms included Stephen retaining the throne, but on his death, it would pass to Matilda’s son who would become King Henry II. The conflict was considered to be particularly destructive, even by the standards of medieval warfare. One chronicler wrote that ‘Christ and his saints were asleep’. Nick will look at key events in our area including battles and castle sieges.​
​
MUSEUM OPENING
​​​
The museum will open for the 2026 season on 4 April 2026. It will be open every Saturday afternoon from 2pm until 4pm until the end of September. Entry is free. The museum can be found in the Old Chapel, Butts Road, SN4 0NN. New displays for this year include a revamped section on the Chiseldon Cauldrons, 'School Days' and 'Pubs of the Parish'. There will also be a new series of exhibits on the theme 'medicine in the past'. Come along and see for yourselves.
​
​
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.