What’s On at Chippenham Museum

Battle of Chippenham Re-enactment

Monkton Park

Saturday 23 July & Sunday 24 July FREE, 11am – 5pm

Join the English Civil War Society in an historically accurate recreation of what happened in and around Chippenham during the summer of 1643.

Watch four hundred soldiers with cannon and horses as The King’s Army and the Roundhead Association battle to decide whether the town will be Royalist or throw in its lot with Parliament.

Enjoy a glimpse of 17th Century life when visiting the encampment of Townsfolk and watch displays by Musketeers, Pikemen, Cavalry, and artillery throughout the day.

Civil War Re-enactment Programme, 2022

Summer Activities

Vintage Market

Saturday 2 July, 10am – 3pm
Yelde Hall, free entry

A chance to browse vintage jewellery, clothing, homewares and more in the beautiful setting of Chippenham’s medieval Yelde Hall.

Fused Glass Workshop with SkyDog Glass

Saturday 16 July,  £25

Creative Adult Workshops. Learn new skills with local makers, book online below

10.30am – 12.30pm

1.30pm – 3.30pm

Talk: Beautiful Useful Things: Robin Tanner and the Arts and Crafts Movement

Thursday 4 August, 6pm-7pm, £5

To accompany the museum’s exhibition on Robin Tanner, this talk will explore some of the links between Tanner and the Arts and Crafts movement. Including the pioneers he admired from the previous century, through to his contemporaries continuing and updating the movement in the interwar years.

Book online here

Summer Soy Candle Making with Hazel & Blue

Saturday 13 August, £35

Creative Adult Workshops. Learn new skills with local makers, book online below:

1.30pm – 3.00pm

Talk: Robin Tanner, Paul Drury, Graham Sutherland and the etching class of 1921 at Goldsmiths.

Thursday 8 September, 6pm-7pm, £5

To accompany the museum’s exhibition on Robin Tanner, this illustrated talk by Jolyon Drury (Paul Drury’s son) will recount Robin’s adoption by the Goldsmiths etching class of 1921 covering the revival of pastoral printmaking, and Paul and Robin’s deep family and professional friendship which endured right through until the end of their lives.

Book online here

Regular Activities

Discovery Time

Every Monday (excluding Bank Holidays), 10.30am-12pm, at the museum
£1.50 per child

Messy play for under 5s. Develop their creative side at Chippenham Museum with crafts, paints, toys, sandpit and more!
Please note this is a drop-in session (£1.50 per child) and places are limited. We recommend arriving for the start of the session to guarantee a place.
This session takes place upstairs (with lift access) in the museum’s Education Room with buggy parking downstairs in the museum.

Museum Photo Club

Wednesdays, 4.30pm – 5.30pm
£3  per session, ages 11 – 17, booked termly with the museum

In association with The Photo Club, this after school club in the setting of the museum galleries runs photography projects for young people to learn new skills and be creative. The club aims to improve self-expression and motivation, focusing on activities to help mental health and wellbeing while capturing great images and having fun. Follow Chippenham Museum PhotoClub on Instagram to see their latest projects

West Wiltshire Young Archeologists’ Club

Saturdays once a month, 10.30am – 12.30pm
To find out about membership, contact the museum.

West Wiltshire YAC is open to everyone aged 8–16 years. YAC clubs get involved in all sorts of activities, including visiting and investigating archaeological sites and historic places, trying out traditional crafts, taking part in excavations, and lots more.

Town Walks

Selected Saturdays at 2pm and Thursdays at 7pm
Free, booking essential here

A free guided walk introducing the town’s history, from King Alfred and the Saxons to the present day. This 40 minute exploration of the town is perfect for both residents and visitors, and both adults and accompanied children. Meeting at The Buttercross, Market Place.
Thursdays at 7pm:
2 June, 7 July, 4 August, 8 September
Saturdays at 2pm:
11 June, 9 July, 13 August, 10 September, 8 October

Crafty Café

Mondays 2pm – 3.30pm, fortnightly
Upcoming dates: 6 June, 20 June, 4 July, 18 July
Free entry, no need to book just drop in

Grab your needlework or knitting and join us every other Monday for an afternoon of craft, coffee and conversation at Chippenham Museum. A chance to talk with other crafters, swap patterns, share skills and get advice if you are stuck on a stitch! A fun and social way to share your hobby and maybe learn a new one?

Museum Lates

Thursdays:  14 April, 5 May, 2 June, 7 July
Free, drop in until 7pm

Visit Chippenham Museum after work, or on your way to dinner, at these special late openings. Meet your friends here to enjoy our exhibitions and discover our collection of over 35,000 objects.