Open Days
13 April, 11 May, 8 June, 13 July, 10 August, 12 October: visit our exhibition and take a look behind the scenes on one of our Coleshill Village Open Days.
- Booking not needed
- Admission applies
Our current exhibition explores the legacy of the creative people who made their home on the Coleshill estate or drew inspiration from it.
Fragments salvaged from Coleshill House after it was lost to fire in 1952 reveal glimpses of the creativity and skill that went into its design and construction. Tools from the estate demonstrate the innovative agricultural and rural practices carried out here.
Objects and images represent some of the artists and designers who lived and worked here, from William Morris to Michie Herbert. You can also discover more about the craftspeople who work from studios here today, and find out why it's so important to keep heritage skills alive.
As part of the wider Coleshill Village Open Day, our replica WW2 Operational Base will be open, giving visitors a chance to see how Britain’s secret army would have lived after an invasion has taken place. Find out more about this often forgotten bit of Britain’s wartime history.
Coleshill’s watermill will also be open, offering a rare chance to see an 18th Century mill with much of its original machinery still in place. Learn about how the power of water was harnessed to make flour and find out about the many milling phrases that have entered day-to-day use.
Open Days take place on 13 April, 11 May, 8 June, 13 July, 10 August, 12 October, 2-5pm. Free entry for National Trust members, otherwise entry is £10 per adult, £5 per child. No pre-booking.
Times
Prices
| Ticket type | Ticket category |
|---|---|
| Adult | £10.00 |
| Child | £5.00 |
| Concession National Trust members | £0.00 |
The basics
- Suitability
Children welcome.
- Meeting point
The Heritage and Rural Skills Centre is in Coleshill village. Follow signs for the Coleshill Estate Office for the car park.
- What to bring and wear
Wear sensible shoes for going around the Mill in the Operational Base.
- Accessibility
Toilets on site, including accessible toilet. Some uneven surfaces such as cobbles due to the historic nature of the building. Please contact us if you require an accessible parking space or if you would like to have an informal chat about access before you book.
Upcoming events
Introduction to Blacksmithing
10 April, 18 July, 4 October: enjoy a full day course getting to grips with the basics of blacksmithing.
Guided Tours: Secrets of Coleshill
17 April to 11 October, 1pm and 2.30pm Thursdays and Saturdays: find out more about some of the lesser-known chapters of the estate’s history and look behind the scenes of the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre.
Traditional Lime Plastering for Professionals
10 May: a fast-paced, practical lime plastering course designed for plasterers, plastering tutors, building contractors and craftspeople seeking to learn about working with traditional lime plaster.
Oxfordshire Artweeks at the Heritage and Rural Skills Centre
14-18 May, 11am-5pm: a range of craftspeople will be exhibiting traditional crafts with a modern twist.