Village museum to 'preserve memories' for locals

A new museum will fulfil "a long-time ambition" for villagers, who hope it will preserve memories for local people.

Wroughton History Group, which has run since 1977, aim to open the museum as a free space for people to absorb the local history and "relive their memories" by Easter.

Maunsell Way Pavilion was built in 1980 primarily for Wroughton Football Club but has been completely unused for the past five years.

"It's going to protect the heritage of the village, so the memories that might otherwise have been lost will be preserved and available for people to access," said the history group's deputy chair Diane Archer.

Swindon Borough Council has leased the site to Wroughton Parish Council.

Archer added: "It's been quite a long-time ambition from the group but finding a suitable premises was the big hurdle so we're immensely grateful to the parish council for letting us have this at a very reasonable cost."

The museum will feature various displays, a children's area, and sitting areas to look through one of the 12 history books Wroughton History Group has issued.

"We're hoping it's going to be somewhere for the schools to bring children to learn about the village," said Archer.

She said they also hoped it would be a place for older residents to "come and relive their memories".

Archer said many people had ties to the area from having worked or had family members work in the airfield.

Adrian Marsh from the history group said: "We've got so much material so the displays will be changing as the year goes on."

The group hope to gain sponsorship and will apply for grants but most of the money needed to set up will come from fundraising events including a lottery and a duck race.

They welcome members of the public to help set up and get involved via Wroughton History Group's website.

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