Haddenham Museum Displays past and present

Introduction

Haddenham Museum has been established to collect and preserve historical information and artefacts about the village of Haddenham in Buckinghamshire. It is situated in The Old School behind the Methodist Church in High Street, Haddenham.

It is intended to hold information on the buildings and land in the locality, the inhabitants and their livelihoods, the tools of their trades, and the stories and events that make up the history of the village.

Most of the museum's artefacts are concerned with domestic and rural life, but many have their own stories. There's a smock - found unsold at the back of the Beehive Store - fashion having passed it by. There's the magic lantern which was used in the museum building, when people queued for this form of entertainment. The old schoolroom building was used by the village brass band for their weekly practice. The band is no more, but we have one of their instruments, one of their uniforms, some of their photographs and prize certificates.

The Museum is run and managed by Haddenham Museum Trust who use the resources of the museum for educational purposes, providing information to schools and community groups and giving talks and tours.

To obtain details regarding talks and tours please call 01844 291004.

Museum News

In the museum you can buy a range of books and maps as well as postcards and notelets showing village scenes.

CD ROMS - The museum now has a copy of the Aylesbury Vale Visual Archive CD ROM, which has memories, photos, video and sound on life in the Vale in the 20th Century. The museum has also acquired a CD ROM which contains a 2 per cent extract from the 1851 census

COFFEE MORNINGS: Every Tuesday. Held in the Methodist church by Maisie Edmunds

Tragedy hits the Methodist Church on the High Street - An entire side wall crumbled and fell at 12 noon on Wednesday 4 July 2001 leaving the roof unsupported on that side. We are told that there were builders scraping off plaster on the inside when the event occurred although the wall was probably very weak due to wet conditions recently. The event was reported on the Local Evening TV News - on Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th July 2001

The Methodist church is reputed to be the tallest witchert building in the world. The walls have been rendered many times over the years in an attempt to preserve them. The road through the High Street was closed off while the situation was being dealt with.

Extensive building works are now completed and the church has been restored to its former glory.

Closer detail of collapsed wall

Top of page