Hendred Museum

The Champs Chapel Museum sits in the quiet Oxfordshire village of East Hendred. The building itself is a 15th-century chapel, founded in 1453 by Carthusian monks and still known locally as Champs Chapel. Its stone walls and small windows give the place the feel of a medieval refuge. The museum occupies the former chapel, preserving its original character while telling the village’s story. The exhibits trace more than a thousand years of East Hendred’s past. They link the village’s history with that of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and the wider country. Artefacts on display show how the community evolved across the centuries. Some items have been scanned and shared online so people can view them from anywhere. A small team of local volunteers keeps the museum open and the collection cared for. Inside, visitors find a single room filled with maps, photographs and everyday objects. A display case holds tools once used by local craftsmen. Another corner shows clothing and textiles from the 18th and 19th centuries. The chapel’s simple interior makes the exhibits stand out. Outside, the surrounding lanes lead to thatched cottages and the parish church.