The Woburn Heritage Centre Trust was formed in 1984 to save and restore the old church of St. Mary’s and to use the building for the benefit of the community. For centuries the parish church had stood on this site but in 1868 a new, larger church was built in Park Street and the old church was reduced in size to become a mortuary chapel as the graveyard surrounds the building and the new church has no graveyard.
In the 1960s the parish church could no longer sustain the chapel upkeep and the building was left empty and neglected for several years. With fundraising in the village, the Trust was formed to save the building and open it as a small museum of the history of Woburn. The Trust was converted to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in 2018 and continues with the ethic of preserving the building and its artefacts.
The tower dates back to the 16th century and in 1830 the old wooden lantern was replaced by a white stone top and a clock, made by B.L. Vulliamy, clockmaker to William IV, was installed. Today the clock keeps perfect time and strikes on the hour.
ABOUT US
Since opening in 1984, the Heritage Centre has grown to be a fully accredited museum and tourist information point, accredited by Arts Council England.
Run entirely by volunteers, entrance is free but we welcome donations.
We specialize in walk leaflets, maps, and books and also sell toys and small gifts plus second-hand books and jigsaws.
The museum contains 28 graphic boards, covering the history of Woburn from ancient times to the present day and our artefacts will bring back nostalgic memories of past times! And we have recently acquired a beautiful dolls house.
The building is wheelchair friendly and we have a mouse trail for children of all ages, with a sheet of clues to guide you to the 14 mice hidden within the museum.
