Chiltern Open Air Museum Turns 50

We’re turning 50, but the story didn’t start in 1976…

Back in June 1973, the Chiltern’s Society’s Executive Committee held a meeting where John Wilson shared his excitement about a recent visit to the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum - where their objective was to rescue vernacular buildings that would otherwise have been demolished. His enthusiasm sparked an idea: why not create something similar here in the Chilterns? Dick Amsden, then Chair of the Historic Works and Buildings Group, picked up the challenge.

The team began exploring other open air museums, including Weald and Downland, Avoncroft and Stowmarket (now The Food Museum), to learn what worked best. After visiting several potential sites, they chose Newland Park in September 1974.

Chiltern Open Air Museum Ltd. was formed in 1976, but it took another two years to secure our site on a five-year lease from Buckinghamshire Council. We then had to put some buildings up before opening to the public in May 1981. Back then, things looked very different: the car park was just a field, the Ticket Office ran out of a caravan, and a public footpath ran straight through the site!

Originally, the Museum only stretched from the hedge behind the Forge and Aborfield Barn down to the bottom of site, including the Woodland and Hidden Meadow. Then, in 1983, more land was added to include the land between the current car park and the Forge – making us what we are today.

To celebrate our big birthday, we’ll be releasing a series of photos and blogs showing what we’ve been getting up to for the last 50 years. We’d love to hear your memories too – funny, sweet or surprising!