Kingswood Heritage Museum

Kingswood Heritage Museum Kingswood Heritage Museum is an 18th Century Brassmill and home to the Warmley Windmill & Grottoes

🍂 WHAT’S ON AT KINGSWOOD HERITAGE MUSEUM – SEPTEMBER 🍂September is shaping up to be a busy month at the museum, with fas...
02/09/2026

🍂 WHAT’S ON AT KINGSWOOD HERITAGE MUSEUM – SEPTEMBER 🍂

September is shaping up to be a busy month at the museum, with fascinating local history, a guided walk through our beautiful grottoes and gardens, and a whole weekend celebrating Everyday Histories – and one of our biggest events of the year is FREE! 🎉

📅 Wednesday 9 September – Lost Bristol
🏙️ 7.30pm
Join popular local historian Chris Bigg for an illustrated talk exploring the Bristol we have lost since the Second World War. Discover grand hotels, historic houses, offices and other familiar landmarks that have disappeared – and see how Bristol’s skyline has changed over the decades.

🎟️ £4.50, including light refreshments.
📞 Please contact the museum to reserve your seat.

🌿 Sunday 13 September – Grottoes & Gardens Guided Walk
🕑 2pm – meet at the museum £5 (cash only)
Join Dino for another fascinating guided walk around the historic Warmley grottoes and gardens. Discover the extraordinary landscape created by William Champion and hear some of the stories behind this remarkable corner of Kingswood.

🚪 HERITAGE OPEN DOORS WEEKEND
📅 Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 September
🕚 11am–5pm
🎟️ FREE ENTRY TO THE MUSEUM!

Come and discover the everyday lives of local people through hands-on exhibits, historic objects and fascinating stories.

From coal miners and brass workers to schools and families, explore the past that shaped our community.

👀 There’s plenty to discover – and you might even spot a story that reminds you of your own family.

History is closer than you think!

🏛️ Our usual opening times
Tuesdays, Saturdays & Sundays
🕑 2–5pm

☕ And don’t forget our Windmill Café for a cuppa and a bite to eat when you visit.

We’d love to see you this September – bring the family, bring a friend, or simply come and see what you can discover!

📍 Kingswood Heritage Museum, Warmley

Some of our lovely visitors yesterday!
02/09/2026

Some of our lovely visitors yesterday!

🛠️ D-I-Y SAVES MONEY… AND YOU GOT GREEN SHIELD STAMPS TOO! 🟢We love finding little glimpses of everyday life in our old ...
01/09/2026

🛠️ D-I-Y SAVES MONEY… AND YOU GOT GREEN SHIELD STAMPS TOO! 🟢

We love finding little glimpses of everyday life in our old photographs and collections – and this tiny newspaper advert is a cracker!

📍 Brian Burchill, 57 Broad Street, Staple Hill proudly announced itself as Staple Hill's largest stockist of D-I-Y materials and tools.

And what could be better?

🛠️ Building materials
🔨 DIY materials and tools
🪟 Glass cut to any size or shape while you waited
🚚 Daily delivery
📅 Open six full days
⛪ Even Sunday morning!

AND… Green Shield Stamps! 🟢🟢🟢

For anyone who remembers them, you bought your shopping, collected your stamps, licked them and stuck them carefully into your book. Once you'd collected enough, you could exchange them for all sorts of goodies.

But we'd love to know more about Brian Burchill's shop.

Did you or your parents buy DIY supplies from here?
🔨 Do you remember the shop on Broad Street?
🟢 Were you a collector of Green Shield Stamps?
📖 And what did you save your stamps for?

Perhaps someone even remembers having glass cut “while you wait”!

It's a tiny advert, but it gives us a wonderful snapshot of everyday Staple Hill – the shops, services and little things that were once part of ordinary life.

What do you remember? 👇



Photo credit: South Hill connection

🚌 BANK HOLIDAY ADVENTURES – THEN AND NOW! 🎩Just look at the faces in this photograph! 😄A row of open-topped charabancs, ...
31/08/2026

🚌 BANK HOLIDAY ADVENTURES – THEN AND NOW! 🎩

Just look at the faces in this photograph! 😄

A row of open-topped charabancs, packed with smartly dressed passengers, hats firmly on heads, and everyone looking thoroughly excited about the day ahead.

The distinctive “Bristol” logo is clearly visible on the front of the vehicles, but we don't know exactly when this photograph was taken – or where these happy travellers were heading.

Was this a Bank Holiday outing?
🌊 Were they off to the seaside?
🏖️ Weston-super-Mare, perhaps?
🍦 A day at the coast, a country excursion or somewhere else entirely?

And just look at the chauffeurs – smartly dressed and ready to set off!

It's easy to forget that a day trip was once a real event. You dressed up, gathered your family or friends, climbed aboard the charabanc and headed off for a day of adventure.

Perry’s shoe and boot shop was based in Staple Hill, Bristol. The prominent family-run shoe shop on the high street was situated near the bank and directly opposite the Portcullis pub. Up through the late 20th century, it was well-known by generations of locals as a go-to spot for purchasing everyday footwear and sports boots.

So what about you?

How did you spend your Bank Holiday? And do you have memories of family day trips, coach outings or seaside adventures?

Where do you think these people were going? 👇

We'd love to hear your theories – and perhaps someone will recognise the vehicles or the people in this wonderful photograph from our collection.



Photo credit: Downend local history society

❤️ THANK YOU! ❤️What a Bank Holiday weekend it has been at Kingswood Heritage Museum!A huge thank you to everyone who ca...
31/08/2026

❤️ THANK YOU! ❤️

What a Bank Holiday weekend it has been at Kingswood Heritage Museum!

A huge thank you to everyone who came through our doors — whether you came to see the amazing Quasars, explored William Champion’s grottoes and gardens, brought the family along, enjoyed a cuppa and a slice of cake, bought something, made a donation, chatted to our volunteers or simply came to have a look around.

Every visit makes a difference.

We are a volunteer-run museum, and every penny you spend with us goes straight back into supporting the museum, our collections, the historic buildings and the gardens.

So whether you spent £5, bought a book, had a piece of cake or popped a donation in the box — thank you. It all helps us keep this special place going. ❤️

And a huge thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who gave up their Bank Holiday weekend to welcome visitors and make everything happen. We couldn't do it without you!

🏛️ Back to our usual museum opening this week:
Tuesday afternoon, 2–5pm
Come and see what's inside — there's always something new to discover.

📍 Kingswood Heritage Museum, Warmley

History is closer than you think.

🏍️❤️ WHAT A DAY! A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME ALONG! ❤️🏍️What a fantastic day we've had at Kingswood Heritage M...
30/08/2026

🏍️❤️ WHAT A DAY! A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME ALONG! ❤️🏍️

What a fantastic day we've had at Kingswood Heritage Museum with the Quasars!

A HUGE thank you to everyone who visited, chatted, asked questions, shared stories, admired the bikes, did the Quasar Trail and generally helped make the museum such a lively place today.

I've taken lots of photographs throughout the day — can you spot yourself, your family or your friends? 👀

If you see yourself, tag yourself or tag your friends! We'd love to know who was here.

And one family gave us our favourite description of the day…

“Perfect for anyone from 4–84!” 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

They explained that their family ranged in age from 4 to 84 — although their youngest daughter wasn't having any of that and suggested it should really be “4 to 104!” 😂

Then they introduced me to Grandad, who is 84, and his grandson, who is 4. ❤️

And really, that's what days like today are all about — something for everyone, whatever your age.

🏍️ We may have waved goodbye to the Quasars for now, but our Quasar exhibition remains in the museum, so you can still discover the fascinating story of these extraordinary motorcycles.

🌿 And tomorrow, the grottoes and gardens are open too, so there's plenty more to explore.

🏛️ Museum: 11am–5pm
Adults £5 | Under 16s FREE
🌿 Grottoes & Gardens: 11am–4pm
Adults £5 | Children £3 | Under 5s FREE
☕ Windmill Café will be open for light refreshments.

So if you missed the grottoes today, don't worry — come and check us out tomorrow!

And once again, thank you to every single person who came through our doors today. You've made it a very special day at KHM. ❤️

30/08/2026

🏍️ AND THEY'RE OFF! 👋

The last Quasar has just left Kingswood Heritage Museum after a fantastic weekend!

A huge thank you to Paul, John, Louis and all the Quasar owners and enthusiasts who brought these amazing machines along, shared their stories and helped make the weekend such a success. ❤️

And here goes Paul — last one out! 🏍️💨

If you spot him out and about on the Quasar…

GIVE HIM A WAVE! 👋😂

What a weekend. Thank you to everyone who came along! More pics to follow soon.

When you've come to the museum to look at futuristic Quasar motorcycles…but the model railway catches your eye. 🚂😂
30/08/2026

When you've come to the museum to look at futuristic Quasar motorcycles…

but the model railway catches your eye. 🚂😂

🏍️🌿 STILL TIME TO COME AND SEE US TODAY! 🌿🏍️The Quasars have certainly been turning heads at Kingswood Heritage Museum t...
30/08/2026

🏍️🌿 STILL TIME TO COME AND SEE US TODAY! 🌿🏍️

The Quasars have certainly been turning heads at Kingswood Heritage Museum today!

🏍️ Paul and Louis are here, along with lots of other Quasar owners and enthusiasts — and there have been some fascinating conversations around these extraordinary machines.

If you've been thinking about coming along… you've still got time!

🏍️ COME AND SEE THE QUASARS
Meet the people who own and love them, see them up close and explore our Quasar exhibition inside the museum.

🌿 AND DON'T FORGET THE GROTTOES!
Our amazing 18th-century grottoes and gardens are open too. Explore the extraordinary pleasure garden created by industrialist William Champion alongside his brassworks — including the mysterious grottoes, Neptune and the Snail Mound.

🏛️ Museum: open until 5pm
🌿 Grottoes & Gardens: open until 4pm
👨 Museum adults £5 | Under 16s FREE
🌿 Grottoes adults £5 | Children £3 | Under 5s FREE

☕ Windmill Café open for light refreshments
🔎 And there's a Quasar Trail for children, with a sticker to collect!

So whether you're fascinated by futuristic motorcycles, curious about Warmley's industrial past, looking for something to do with the family — or all three…

COME AND HAVE A LOOK! 👀

📍 Kingswood Heritage Museum, Warmley

History is closer than you think.

🎬🏍️ THE QUASAR ALMOST HAD A JAMES BOND ROLE! 🏍️🎬Imagine 007 tearing through a dramatic chase scene… on one of these!Duri...
30/08/2026

🎬🏍️ THE QUASAR ALMOST HAD A JAMES BOND ROLE! 🏍️🎬

Imagine 007 tearing through a dramatic chase scene… on one of these!

During the late 1970s or early 1980s, the futuristic Quasar attracted interest from people working on the James Bond films. The unusual feet-forward motorcycle was considered and inspected for possible use in a 007 film.

Sadly, it never made it onto the screen.

Imagine what could have been! 🤯

But today, you don't need to imagine it…

🏍️ THE QUASARS ARE BACK AT KINGSWOOD HERITAGE MUSEUM!

Come and see these extraordinary machines up close, chat to the drivers and meet some of the people who are passionate about keeping the Quasar story alive.

And while you're here, explore our Quasar exhibition and discover how this remarkable British motorcycle came to be.

🔎 Kids can also take on our Quasar Trail – find the hidden words around the museum, solve the puzzle and claim a sticker!

🏛️ Museum open TODAY: 11am–5pm
🌿 Grottoes & Gardens: 11am–4pm
👨 Adults £5 | 👧 Under 16s FREE
🌿 Grottoes: Adults £5 | Children £3 | Under 5s FREE
☕ Windmill Café open for light refreshments

Come along and see what might have been James Bond's motorcycle of the future!

📍 Kingswood Heritage Museum, Warmley

History is closer than you think.

#007

Address

Tower Lane, Warmley
Bristol
BS308XT

Opening Hours

Tuesday 2pm - 5pm
Saturday 2pm - 5pm
Sunday 2pm - 5pm

Telephone

+441179605664

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