Vale & Downland Museum
@valeanddownland.bsky.social
We're a small local history museum in Wantage, Oxfordshire.
The birth place of King Alfred the Great!
https://linktr.ee/valeanddownlandmuseum
The birth place of King Alfred the Great!
https://linktr.ee/valeanddownlandmuseum
Reposted by Vale & Downland Museum
DUE TO CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS, THE MARKET SQUARE CAR PARK IN WANTAGE WILL BE CLOSED ON THE FOLLOWING DATES:
WEDNESDAY 26 NOVEMBER
THURSDAY 27 NOVEMBER
SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER
SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER
FRIDAY 5 DECEMBER
Thank you.
WEDNESDAY 26 NOVEMBER
THURSDAY 27 NOVEMBER
SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER
SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER
FRIDAY 5 DECEMBER
Thank you.
November 26, 2025 at 12:43 PM
DUE TO CHRISTMAS ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS, THE MARKET SQUARE CAR PARK IN WANTAGE WILL BE CLOSED ON THE FOLLOWING DATES:
WEDNESDAY 26 NOVEMBER
THURSDAY 27 NOVEMBER
SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER
SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER
FRIDAY 5 DECEMBER
Thank you.
WEDNESDAY 26 NOVEMBER
THURSDAY 27 NOVEMBER
SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER
SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER
FRIDAY 5 DECEMBER
Thank you.
November 26, 2025 at 9:36 AM
R.Mayo & Sons, Mill Street Wantage. Circa 1900
Shoeing and General Smiths. This building was behind the old Shears Inn on Mill Street, but according to the sign on the building, they also were in Grove Street.
#WaybackWednesday
Shoeing and General Smiths. This building was behind the old Shears Inn on Mill Street, but according to the sign on the building, they also were in Grove Street.
#WaybackWednesday
November 26, 2025 at 9:23 AM
R.Mayo & Sons, Mill Street Wantage. Circa 1900
Shoeing and General Smiths. This building was behind the old Shears Inn on Mill Street, but according to the sign on the building, they also were in Grove Street.
#WaybackWednesday
Shoeing and General Smiths. This building was behind the old Shears Inn on Mill Street, but according to the sign on the building, they also were in Grove Street.
#WaybackWednesday
Next week we welcome back Jude from the Letcombe Brook Project.
Jude will be telling us about the chalk stream that runs from Letcombe Regis, through Wantage & Grove, to East Hanney.
Wed 3rd Dec 1.30pm
£7.50 Book in advance online by visiting: bit.ly/4pbWtxO
Jude will be telling us about the chalk stream that runs from Letcombe Regis, through Wantage & Grove, to East Hanney.
Wed 3rd Dec 1.30pm
£7.50 Book in advance online by visiting: bit.ly/4pbWtxO
November 25, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Next week we welcome back Jude from the Letcombe Brook Project.
Jude will be telling us about the chalk stream that runs from Letcombe Regis, through Wantage & Grove, to East Hanney.
Wed 3rd Dec 1.30pm
£7.50 Book in advance online by visiting: bit.ly/4pbWtxO
Jude will be telling us about the chalk stream that runs from Letcombe Regis, through Wantage & Grove, to East Hanney.
Wed 3rd Dec 1.30pm
£7.50 Book in advance online by visiting: bit.ly/4pbWtxO
We love a good #Background here at
the museum, they really help bring a display to life!
See the comments to find out where you can find these 5 backgrounds in the museum 👇
#Museum30
the museum, they really help bring a display to life!
See the comments to find out where you can find these 5 backgrounds in the museum 👇
#Museum30
November 13, 2025 at 10:43 AM
We love a good #Background here at
the museum, they really help bring a display to life!
See the comments to find out where you can find these 5 backgrounds in the museum 👇
#Museum30
the museum, they really help bring a display to life!
See the comments to find out where you can find these 5 backgrounds in the museum 👇
#Museum30
Day 11 is #Reflection for #Museum30 and we have an image of the Wantage canal. Taken by Tom Reveley in the early 1900s.
This is from a glass plate negative which we were lucky enough to add to our collection in 2019, alongside many others of Tom Reveley's glass plates.
This is from a glass plate negative which we were lucky enough to add to our collection in 2019, alongside many others of Tom Reveley's glass plates.
November 13, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Day 11 is #Reflection for #Museum30 and we have an image of the Wantage canal. Taken by Tom Reveley in the early 1900s.
This is from a glass plate negative which we were lucky enough to add to our collection in 2019, alongside many others of Tom Reveley's glass plates.
This is from a glass plate negative which we were lucky enough to add to our collection in 2019, alongside many others of Tom Reveley's glass plates.
Today's #Museum30 prompt is #Map so we are reminiscing about some of the Wantage pubs from the past with this drawn map of Public House's of Wantage Past and Present. Made by A.R. Rose 1992.
Which of the pubs from the past do you remember or wish were still in the town today?
Which of the pubs from the past do you remember or wish were still in the town today?
November 13, 2025 at 8:22 AM
During Victorian times mending clothes was essential, especially for working-class people as they could vary rarely afford new shop-bought clothing.
#Museum30 #Stitch #StitchInTime
#Museum30 #Stitch #StitchInTime
November 13, 2025 at 8:21 AM
During Victorian times mending clothes was essential, especially for working-class people as they could vary rarely afford new shop-bought clothing.
#Museum30 #Stitch #StitchInTime
#Museum30 #Stitch #StitchInTime
𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽!
We're delighted to be stocking locally milled flour from Oxford Flour Mill in Wantage!
This beautiful flour is perfect for any home baker with five varieties available.
Pop in next time your're in town to pick up a bag and take a taste of Wantage home with you!
We're delighted to be stocking locally milled flour from Oxford Flour Mill in Wantage!
This beautiful flour is perfect for any home baker with five varieties available.
Pop in next time your're in town to pick up a bag and take a taste of Wantage home with you!
November 6, 2025 at 12:24 PM
𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽!
We're delighted to be stocking locally milled flour from Oxford Flour Mill in Wantage!
This beautiful flour is perfect for any home baker with five varieties available.
Pop in next time your're in town to pick up a bag and take a taste of Wantage home with you!
We're delighted to be stocking locally milled flour from Oxford Flour Mill in Wantage!
This beautiful flour is perfect for any home baker with five varieties available.
Pop in next time your're in town to pick up a bag and take a taste of Wantage home with you!
Day 5 of #Museum30 is #Clay
These clay loom weights were found in Sutton Courtenay and are a great example of the annular or doughnut-shaped clay loom weights that became more common during the Anglo-Saxon period.
Before that, loom weights were more often triangular or pyramidal.
These clay loom weights were found in Sutton Courtenay and are a great example of the annular or doughnut-shaped clay loom weights that became more common during the Anglo-Saxon period.
Before that, loom weights were more often triangular or pyramidal.
November 5, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Would you like to win two tickets to meet Father Christmas here at the Museum on either Dickensian Evening Friday 5th or Saturday 6th December?
Visit our Facebook page to find out more and enter!
www.facebook.com/valeanddownlandmuseum
Visit our Facebook page to find out more and enter!
www.facebook.com/valeanddownlandmuseum
November 5, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Would you like to win two tickets to meet Father Christmas here at the Museum on either Dickensian Evening Friday 5th or Saturday 6th December?
Visit our Facebook page to find out more and enter!
www.facebook.com/valeanddownlandmuseum
Visit our Facebook page to find out more and enter!
www.facebook.com/valeanddownlandmuseum
So good, it’s un-boo-lievable! 👻
Melt in your mouth tiffin available now in the Museum Coffee Shop just in time for Halloween 🎃
Melt in your mouth tiffin available now in the Museum Coffee Shop just in time for Halloween 🎃
October 30, 2025 at 11:03 AM
So good, it’s un-boo-lievable! 👻
Melt in your mouth tiffin available now in the Museum Coffee Shop just in time for Halloween 🎃
Melt in your mouth tiffin available now in the Museum Coffee Shop just in time for Halloween 🎃
Regent Cinema, Newbury Street, Wantage
No date for this photo but it was pre-1977
Opened in Oct 1935. The first film shown at the cinema was Stormy Weather starring Tom Walls, Ralph Lynn & Yvonne Arnaud
After many ups and downs the cinema closed for the final time on 8th Sept 2005
#WaybackWednesday
No date for this photo but it was pre-1977
Opened in Oct 1935. The first film shown at the cinema was Stormy Weather starring Tom Walls, Ralph Lynn & Yvonne Arnaud
After many ups and downs the cinema closed for the final time on 8th Sept 2005
#WaybackWednesday
October 29, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Regent Cinema, Newbury Street, Wantage
No date for this photo but it was pre-1977
Opened in Oct 1935. The first film shown at the cinema was Stormy Weather starring Tom Walls, Ralph Lynn & Yvonne Arnaud
After many ups and downs the cinema closed for the final time on 8th Sept 2005
#WaybackWednesday
No date for this photo but it was pre-1977
Opened in Oct 1935. The first film shown at the cinema was Stormy Weather starring Tom Walls, Ralph Lynn & Yvonne Arnaud
After many ups and downs the cinema closed for the final time on 8th Sept 2005
#WaybackWednesday
Top: Victoria Cross Gallery, Market Place, Wantage in 1910. Johnnie Barr firefighting appliance on the left and the new Merryweather steam fire engine on the right.
Bottom Left: Johnnie Barr
Bottom Right: Rear of Johnnie Barr with hose and buckets.
#WaybackWednesday
Bottom Left: Johnnie Barr
Bottom Right: Rear of Johnnie Barr with hose and buckets.
#WaybackWednesday
October 15, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Top: Victoria Cross Gallery, Market Place, Wantage in 1910. Johnnie Barr firefighting appliance on the left and the new Merryweather steam fire engine on the right.
Bottom Left: Johnnie Barr
Bottom Right: Rear of Johnnie Barr with hose and buckets.
#WaybackWednesday
Bottom Left: Johnnie Barr
Bottom Right: Rear of Johnnie Barr with hose and buckets.
#WaybackWednesday
Our Nearly New Craft Sale is just a month away!
Come along and grab a bargain!
Come along and grab a bargain!
October 8, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Our Nearly New Craft Sale is just a month away!
Come along and grab a bargain!
Come along and grab a bargain!
Terrace houses in Naldertown Wantage. We believe this photograph was taken sometime between 1960 and 1975.
These houses were built in around 1870 by the Nalder & Nalder Company as homes for their workers.
#WaybackWednesday
These houses were built in around 1870 by the Nalder & Nalder Company as homes for their workers.
#WaybackWednesday
October 8, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Terrace houses in Naldertown Wantage. We believe this photograph was taken sometime between 1960 and 1975.
These houses were built in around 1870 by the Nalder & Nalder Company as homes for their workers.
#WaybackWednesday
These houses were built in around 1870 by the Nalder & Nalder Company as homes for their workers.
#WaybackWednesday
The Stores and terrace houses on Ormond Road in 1967. This photograph was taken just prior to this whole terrace being demolished.
On The Stores we can see adverts for Brasso, Silvo, Players cigarettes and rimflo. Parked outside is a black Morris Minor 1000, 2-door saloon.
#WaybackWednesday
On The Stores we can see adverts for Brasso, Silvo, Players cigarettes and rimflo. Parked outside is a black Morris Minor 1000, 2-door saloon.
#WaybackWednesday
October 1, 2025 at 9:28 AM
The Stores and terrace houses on Ormond Road in 1967. This photograph was taken just prior to this whole terrace being demolished.
On The Stores we can see adverts for Brasso, Silvo, Players cigarettes and rimflo. Parked outside is a black Morris Minor 1000, 2-door saloon.
#WaybackWednesday
On The Stores we can see adverts for Brasso, Silvo, Players cigarettes and rimflo. Parked outside is a black Morris Minor 1000, 2-door saloon.
#WaybackWednesday
Ormond Road looking on to Charlton Road in the mid-1970s. Apart from larger trees and quite a few more cars, this part of the town has not changed all that much in the past 5 decades.
In the distance is Wantage Hospital.
#WaybackWednesday #Wantage #Oxfordshire #Berkshire
In the distance is Wantage Hospital.
#WaybackWednesday #Wantage #Oxfordshire #Berkshire
September 24, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Ormond Road looking on to Charlton Road in the mid-1970s. Apart from larger trees and quite a few more cars, this part of the town has not changed all that much in the past 5 decades.
In the distance is Wantage Hospital.
#WaybackWednesday #Wantage #Oxfordshire #Berkshire
In the distance is Wantage Hospital.
#WaybackWednesday #Wantage #Oxfordshire #Berkshire
This year's Nearly New Craft Session is bigger & better than ever
We will have all the donated craft items for sale, we also have space for extra stalls for local crafts people
So, if you would like to hire a stall please get in touch by emailing Museum Manager - manager@valeanddownlandmuseum.org.uk
We will have all the donated craft items for sale, we also have space for extra stalls for local crafts people
So, if you would like to hire a stall please get in touch by emailing Museum Manager - manager@valeanddownlandmuseum.org.uk
September 18, 2025 at 10:23 AM
This year's Nearly New Craft Session is bigger & better than ever
We will have all the donated craft items for sale, we also have space for extra stalls for local crafts people
So, if you would like to hire a stall please get in touch by emailing Museum Manager - manager@valeanddownlandmuseum.org.uk
We will have all the donated craft items for sale, we also have space for extra stalls for local crafts people
So, if you would like to hire a stall please get in touch by emailing Museum Manager - manager@valeanddownlandmuseum.org.uk
Mill Street, Wantage c1870
Mill Street looking surprisingly similar to how it looks today, although there is no Tramway building here and the building in between the Baptist Church and the three-storey building at the top of the street, is very different.
#WaybackWednesday
Mill Street looking surprisingly similar to how it looks today, although there is no Tramway building here and the building in between the Baptist Church and the three-storey building at the top of the street, is very different.
#WaybackWednesday
September 17, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Mill Street, Wantage c1870
Mill Street looking surprisingly similar to how it looks today, although there is no Tramway building here and the building in between the Baptist Church and the three-storey building at the top of the street, is very different.
#WaybackWednesday
Mill Street looking surprisingly similar to how it looks today, although there is no Tramway building here and the building in between the Baptist Church and the three-storey building at the top of the street, is very different.
#WaybackWednesday
As the days turn cooler, we’ve added something extra comforting to the menu at the Museum Coffee Shop… homemade soup
Come and enjoy a bowl of our delicious soup, served with fresh rolls, a cheese scone, or choose from our range of freshly made sandwiches, baguettes, and rolls
#SupportLocal
Come and enjoy a bowl of our delicious soup, served with fresh rolls, a cheese scone, or choose from our range of freshly made sandwiches, baguettes, and rolls
#SupportLocal
September 16, 2025 at 11:29 AM
As the days turn cooler, we’ve added something extra comforting to the menu at the Museum Coffee Shop… homemade soup
Come and enjoy a bowl of our delicious soup, served with fresh rolls, a cheese scone, or choose from our range of freshly made sandwiches, baguettes, and rolls
#SupportLocal
Come and enjoy a bowl of our delicious soup, served with fresh rolls, a cheese scone, or choose from our range of freshly made sandwiches, baguettes, and rolls
#SupportLocal