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Project ’22 – The Sale of the Sarsden Estate 1922

Project ’22 – The Sale of the Sarsden Estate 1922

This interesting and well-researched exhibition continues throughout 2023

Project ’22 – The Sale of the Sarsden Estate 1922

The Churchill and Sarsden Heritage Centre have a big anniversary to celebrate in 2022

This exhibition celebrated the centenary of the sale of the Sarsden Estate which owned practically the whole of the village of Churchill together with neighbouring land and property. Its sale in 1922 had a profound effect not only on Churchill, but also on nearby Sarsden, Chadlington and Lyneham, so a group of volunteers, led by Linda Devlin, researched the social and economic reasons for this important sale, and its impact on the owners and occupiers of the various properties.

Unlike the sad fate of some country estates that were broken up and sold off after WW1, the story of the Sarsden Estate is largely a positive one.

The results of this research revealed some lovely stories of the people who owned these properties and formed the basis of our 2023 exhibition, which featured photos, old postcards, deeds, and interviews. These findings are an important contribution to the history of our local area.

Open Afternoon and Scarecrow Workshop 2018

At our 2018 Open Afternoon there was an opportunity to look round the new exhibition in the Heritage Centre, curated by Alan Watkins - Churchill and Sarsden in the Great War 1914-1918 – accompanied by delicious tea and scones – and we also organised a SCARECROW WORKSHOP.

Scarecrow 5Scarecrow 7Scarecrow 11Scarecrow 12

 

Opening of the restored Sarsden washpool 2017

A large crowd turned up to see the reopening of the Sarsden washpool  - the rain mostly held off, refreshments were served, a number of Cotswold sheep took an early bath – and everyone enjoyed themselves.  Sheepwashes have long outlived their usefulness but seeing this one in use shows just how dramatically some aspects of rural life have changed over the centuries.

sheepwash 1

The Sarsden washpool is easily seen from the road
In the middle of Churchill village with Chipping Norton behind you and the pub on your right, leave the church on your left and go down the hill – signposted to Sarsden and Merriscourt.
The washpool is on the left hand side of the bridge over the Sars Brook at the bottom of the hill.




Gravestones Walk and Talk 2016

OPEN AFTERNOON (with tea and scrummy cakes)
and a (short) GRAVESTONES WALK (and talk) by Nina Morgan

gravstones 2

Nina Morgan, author of The Geology of Oxford Gravestones, and something of an expert on the family life of William Smith (it is she who has transcribed the 52 letters (held at Oxford Nat Hist Museum) between William Smith and his nephew and niece John and Anne Phillips), together with her co-author Philip Powell, gave us a fascinating introduction to the geology of some of our gravestones.   

 

The William Smith Plaque 2015

william smith sign

CurryFundLogo2William Smith, Father of English Geology, was born in Churchill in 1769 and we are delighted to have installed a plaque at Smith's birthplace, thanks to the generous support of The Curry Fund.  

The plaque was unveiled on 22 March 2015 by Professor Hugh Torrens.

We have also been working with the Oxford University Museum of Natural History to commemorate the bicentenary of William Smith's famous geological map of England and Wales.

This is a significant partnership and we are delighted to be celebrating the heritage of the villages of Churchill and Sarsden with this important focus on William Smith in 2015

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From Our Guest Book

  • "A fine chance discovery"

  • "What a lovely treat to stumble upon. Thank you for preserving a part of our Heritage"

  • "Great building, well restored. Charming!"

  • "Lovely spot, so grateful this part of the old church was saved."

  • "Such a wonderful enterprise. The locality should be proud of it."

  • "Beautiful restoration, very nicely done! Unexpected hive of information."

  • "A fascinating visit. William Smith was a wonderful man! "

  • "Fantastic, absolutely first class. Most interesting and informative."

  • "Excellent to have this centre as a focus for Churchill's history - especially in relation to William Smith."

  • "A fascinating display in a very beautiful setting."

  • "A little gem I didn't know existed."

  • "Very good new interactive displays, very comprehensive."

  • "Congratulations to all on this initiative.  So well-organised and user-friendly."

  • "Why haven't we been here earlier? We shall certainly return!"

  • "Beautiful setting, very peaceful & informative"