Vale & Downland Museum

24/06/2026

Want to get your hands on the latest trading card game first!
Club Titans are hosting a closed testing session on the 18th July here in the museum!
This is a football based trading card game. You do not need to be interested in football but children must be aged 8-14.

They have 4 groups of up to 8 children.
10:30am
11:30am
13:00pm
14:00pm

If you'd like to attend please book online https://www.letsreg.com/uk/booking/gametest4726_1781695685 #/

Please note this is not a museum run event. For more information please contact Club Titans directly.

24/06/2026

Wantage Recreation Ground 5th June 1943.
At a Carnival for Victory, this woman has just walked the plank and fallen into a large canvas water tank.

How many of us would love to take a dip in that water today?

24/06/2026

A hat is definitely needed in this weather 🥵

A lot of local schools are closed or on shorter hours today and tomorrow and we know how hard it can be to stay cool in a heatwave, so why not visit the museum and take advantage of our new air conditioning?

It is completely free to visit (donations very welcome) and our main galleries are air conditioned. There are plenty of gallery trails, puzzles, games and colouring to keep the kids entertained for a little while.

And don't forget about the museum coffee shop, they have lots of delicious drinks, lunches and of course ice creams 🍦🥤

The lovely lady in this photo was once used in Arbery and Son . See if you can find her in the museum...

23/06/2026

Our galleries are the best place to be during this heatwave! The air-con is making them a very comfortable 18°c, so if you need a break from the heat why not pop in for a visit.

Please note that to keep our coffee shop staff safe during the high temperatures we will only be taking food orders until 1pm. Drinks and ice creams will be available until 3pm.

22/06/2026

If you are able, please give us a vote for the bonus community Movement for Good prize draw!

We could receive a £5,000 donation with your help through the Movement for Good Draw.

22/06/2026

New exhibition being installed into the Squires Gallery today; 𝙋𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝 - 𝙏𝙬𝙤 𝙈𝙞𝙭𝙚𝙙 𝙈𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙖 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙨.

Local artists Rosemary Howden and Sue Wharton are bringing their mixed media art to the museum for the first time and we can't wait to see their work.

Tuesday 23rd June - Saturday 11th July

Free admission but donations to the museum very welcome.

18/06/2026

You're not going to want to miss out on your chance to win some of these fantastic prizes on the Summer Fete Raffle!

Get your tickets now from the museum, just £1 per ticket and all proceeds go directly to support the museum.

17/06/2026

Challow Station photographed by Henry Taunt in the 1920s.

The station was opened in 1840 and was originally called Faringdon Road Station. It was part of GWR’s main line and was renamed Challow Station in 1864 to avoid confusion with the newly opened Faringdon Railway which ran between Uffington and Faringdon.

In the early 1930s the line at Challow was increased from two to four tracks and the timber buildings were replaced by brick buildings.

The station closed to passengers in 1964 with the last passenger train running on 5th December that year and the last freight train in 1965.

16/06/2026

Little snapshots of some of our favourite pieces from the Wantage Art Group Exhibition.

The exhibition is only on display in the Squires Gallery until Saturday 20th June, so make sure to come along to check out the amazing artworks from local artists.

Free admission but donations to the museum very welcome.

13/06/2026

Only one week remaining to see the Wantage Art Group Exhibition which is on display until Saturday 20th June.