Aldbourne Heritage Centre facts for kids
Aldbourne Heritage Centre is a cool local museum in Wiltshire, England. It's right in the middle of the village of Aldbourne, next to The Crown Inn.
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Discovering Aldbourne's Past
The Aldbourne Heritage Centre first opened its doors in August 2014. It shows off amazing objects and displays that tell the story of Aldbourne. You can learn about the village from ancient times all the way to today! The museum is run by a group called the Aldbourne Community Heritage Group (ACHG). This group also puts on interesting talks and events about local history.
Working with Others
The Heritage Centre is part of a bigger group called the South Western Federation of Museums and Art Galleries. This means it connects with other museums in the area. In 2015, the Centre worked with the Wiltshire Museum on a special project. It was called "Wiltshire's Story in 100 Objects." This was a traveling show that celebrated the county's rich history. The Aldbourne Heritage Centre shared an 18th-century crotal bell for the exhibition. This bell was made right there in Aldbourne.
What You Can See at the Centre
The Centre always has new and exciting displays. They cover many different topics about Aldbourne's past. Here are some of the cool things you might discover:
Ancient Discoveries
- The Aldbourne Cup: This is a beautifully decorated pot from the early Bronze Age. It was found in an ancient burial mound nearby.
- Village Geology and Legends: Learn about the rocks and land that shaped the village pond. You can also hear the old story of the dabchick bird and its link to Aldbourne.
- Prehistoric Tools: See ancient flint tools that were used long ago. These were found in Bronze Age burial mounds in the area.
Village Life Through the Ages
- Old Court Cases: Find out about disagreements between local people and the King or Queen. These happened in 1560 (with Queen Elizabeth I) and 1607 (with King James I).
- Life During Enclosure: Hear stories about the people of Aldbourne in the early 1800s. This was when big changes happened to land ownership in England.
- Local Jobs: Discover how people used to make a living in Aldbourne. This includes industries like fustian-weaving (making a strong fabric) and chair-making.
- Bell Making: Learn about the very important bell founding industry. Bells were made in Aldbourne from the 1600s to the 1800s.
- Village Fires: See how fires have affected the village over hundreds of years.
- Religious Life: Explore the history of different religious groups in Aldbourne.
Aldbourne and World War II
- Band of Brothers Connection: Discover that Easy Company of the US Army 101st Airborne Division stayed in Aldbourne. This famous group was later featured in the book and TV show Band of Brothers. They were here before D-Day in World War II.
- Other Military Units: Learn about other military groups that were in the village during both World Wars.
Objects on Display
Besides the flint tools, you can also see:
- Two copies of the Aldbourne Cup. One looks like the original today, and the other shows how it looked when it was new. The real Aldbourne Cup is at the British Museum.
- Copies of old documents from the Middle Ages and Tudor times. These show how the local lords managed the land.
- Many different hand-bells and crotal bells. These were made in Aldbourne by families like the Corr and Wells.
- A fireman's helmet from the 1800s.
- Old farming tools from Victorian times and even earlier.
- Items related to the American soldiers who stayed in the village during the war.
- Thousands of photos showing life in Aldbourne from the mid-1800s until now.
When to Visit
The Centre is open on Saturdays, Sundays, and Bank Holidays during the summer. If you want to visit at other times, you can arrange it by making an appointment.
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