Costume Team Update: January 2025
This week our Estate Manager Rachael joined the talented COAM Costume team for a fitting of the wonderful smock they've been creating. These fabulous volunteers have been working on the smock since September and Rachael was thrilled to try it on. We discovered what else they were working on.
Chiltern Rural Life: How Roads Changed Through the Centuries
Before the 18th century, the people of the Chilterns lived in a largely rural landscape of remote villages, hamlets, farmsteads, and market towns along the main roads. Discover how the development of the roads changed travel in the Chilterns.
Community Stories: Temporary Buildings
Discover the stories of the South Bucks Jewish community during wartime and why they feel an affinity to the Nissen Hut at the Museum.
COAM Photography Exhibition 2025
Calling all photographers! You could see your images on display in one of our historic buildings by entering our photo competition.
Community Stories: A Life Crafting Exquisite Furniture
Discover the heritage of some of the people who worked in the High Wycombe furniture factories by reading this Community Story.
Creating a Victorian Smock
Our costume team create a Victorian-style smock for our Estate Manager.
Festive Weekend 2024
Even the terrible weather couldn’t dampen the Christmas spirit at our Festive Weekend on 7 and 8 December!
Celebrating Diwali During Terrific Tuesday
During the October half-term, our Terrific Tuesday family activities celebrated Diwali - the Hindu festival of light.
Our Spookily Spectacular Halloween Fundraiser!
Every year the crowds gather at Chiltern Open Air Museum for our Halloween Spectacular fundraising evening and 2024 was no exception!
Heart of Bucks Grant Supports Accompanied Walks for 2025
Heart of Bucks have awarded a £5000 grant to support our accompanied walks in 2025.
COAM Commended in Tourism Awards
Chiltern Open Air Museum has been commended for Accessible and Inclusive Tourism in the Tourism South East Beautiful South Tourism Awards for 2024-2025.
Groundworks Begin for the 1950s Bandstand
Groundworks begin at Chiltern Open Air Museum for the re-erection of a 1950s bandstand, originally from Finsbury Circus Gardens.
Bringing a Traditional Harvest to Life
Every September, COAM bring the smells, sounds and tastes of Harvests past back to life at our annual Traditional Harvest event.
Keeping Heritage Crafts Alive
A look at the heritage crafts that are demonstrated at the Museum.
The Grimwood Museum Adventure
We’re taking part in the Grimwood Museum Adventure this August!
Lady Howe Visits Chiltern Open Air Museum
Our Patron, Countess Howe His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, hosted a Midsummer Gathering at the Museum in June 2024.
Wellbeing Activities This Spring
To mark Mental Health Awareness week, we look at the wellbeing activities at the Museum this spring.
Buildings in Storage: Little Gaddesden Living Van
The Little Gaddesden Living Van is a rare survival of mobile rural accommodation, believed to have housed a gamekeeper, possibly on the Ashridge Estate. Dismantled and saved in 2001, this substantial timber van offers insight into estate life, seasonal labour and the practical realities of countryside employment in Hertfordshire. Now in store at Chiltern Open Air Museum, it represents an often overlooked but important part of rural heritage.
Buildings in Storage: Jackson Studios
Jackson Studios, the birthplace of many iconic British sounds including Motorhead’s Ace of Spades, is currently in storage at Chiltern Open Air Museum.
Traditional Chilterns Sheep Folding
In the idyllic landscapes of the Chilterns, farmers once employed a distinctive method known as sheep folding. This ingenious practice involved herding sheep into movable temporary pens called folds, and it was particularly effective on poor soils prevalent in the region.
Finding Us
Newland Park, Gorelands Lane
Chalfont St Peter HP8 4AB