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Image © T&DHT
About the museum: The museum can be found in Chapel Street, between the Armstrong and Cossham Halls, and the Wheatsheaf Pub.
Opening Times: Tuesday to Friday (1pm - 4pm) and Saturday (10am - 4pm). Closed Sunday, Monday and Bank Holidays and the Christmas/New Year period.
Facilities: Unfortunately we do not have space for either a refreshment bar or a public toilet but these can both be found within just tens of yards of the museum.
Disabled access: The Roman Coins exhibition room is wheelchair accessible, the front room has a step down and the upstairs gallery is reached by a narrow staircase with handrails. Display material incorporates best practice for readability although we cannot guarantee this for guest exhibitions.
Car parking: St Mary's Street car park is across the road and waiting in the daytime is limited to two hours. Long term parking is available in both the Rock Street car park, across the road from the St Mary Street car park, and Castle Court car park, accessed from the High Street.
Thornbury is a very small compact town centre and shops, restaurants, cafes, banks and public toilets are all available within a few hundred metres, or yards, of the museum.
Our Museum Logo shows the Thornbury pump, situated at the junction of the High Street, Castle Street and the Plain, with the old buildings seen through the framework. A simplified version is used to identify the information panels and waymarkers of the Heritage Trail.
Image © T&DHT
Thornbury and District Heritage Trust has been operating as a museum in Thornbury since 1986 and was granted full Registered Museum status in 2002.
However, in 2009 we worked towards and applied for the latest designation, which is Museum Accreditation. This replaces Registration status and is more demanding. We are delighted to say that in August 2009 we were awarded fully Accredited status. You can find out much more about this on our News page.
Ours is a community m useum run solely by volunteers, with the financial support of
South Gloucestershire Council, Thornbury Town Council and the museum's fundraising activities. It provides a museum service for Thornbury and all the parishes of the Lower Severn Vale. The Friends of Thornbury Museum raise valuable funds for special projects. See the Friends page.
Objects and archive material connected with the local area as well as guest exhibitions on a wide variety of topics can be seen.
The discovery of a Roman Coin hoard in 2004 has given us the opportunity to expand our archaeological displays.
We have a small shop where publications of local interest and souvenirs can be purchased. See our Museum Shop page.
Collecting and Research
The Trust's collection includes objects, a document archive, photographs and digital images which all help tell the story of Thornbury and its surrounding parishes. Some of the collection is placed in store and can be accessed by arrangement for research, as well as being used to create exhibitons and displays. Storage space is very limited so we are only able to accept items of local importance and interest into the collection.
The museum has three research groups:
The Research Group meets on the first Thursday of every month at 7.30.pm at the United Reformed Church and Thornbury Geology Group meets on the third Thursday of the month at 7.30.pm at The Chantry. Both these groups produce a monthly newsletter for members with copies retained at the museum for anyone to read. The Archaeology Group meets weekly in Cowhill, Oldbury to conserve and document material collected from a local dig. This group also arranges occasional visits to other sites and is undertaking a new dig in 2009.
Research team members endeavour to answer all enquiries received by phone, visitor or email whenever possible. We have various archives, censuses, parish records etc. at our disposal. We do not charge a fee for this service but donations to the “Thornbury and District Heritage Trust” are most welcome.
Educational Outreach
Museum volunteers make visits to local schools and other organisations with presentations, handling materials and talks. Here, a "Roman Day" was organised for local children at The Chantry, Thornbury. Activities included learning about life in Roman times, making a clay lamp, constructing a mosaic picture, dressing up in a toga and pottery sorting. 
Group visits are available by arrangement. The museum can only accommodate small parties and school groups.
Guided walks are organised in Spring, and for Heritage Open Days in Autumn, and at other times by request, if possible.
Image © T&DHT
The Friends of Thornbury and District Museum
This group publishes a regular newsletter and organizes a range of visits and social events. Its core aim is to support the museum with both additional funding for special projects and volunteers for events and museum activities. See the Friends page for more details.
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