A village with a story worth telling
The Harbury Heritage Group was formed in 2010 by Nigel Chapman, ex-deputy head of the local primary school, to find a home for the hundreds of old photographs and documents relating to the history of Harbury, gathered over many years by school staff. From photographs and documents to personal memories and artefacts, we safeguard the story of Harbury for future generations.
Our collection spans centuries of village life - from ancient field maps and census records to wartime letters and school photographs. The materials are still used in the classroom when there are opportunities to investigate local topics. Every item tells a part of Harbury's story.
“Every photograph, every document, every memory we preserve is a gift to the generations that follow.”Harbury Heritage Group
A Growing Archive
Our catalogue contains over 2,500 items including photographs, documents, maps, newspaper cuttings, and physical artefacts. The collection is fully searchable through our online catalogue, making Harbury's history accessible to everyone.
The Heritage Room opened in 2012 in a converted classroom at the primary school, and relocated to its current home - the former temporary classroom in the school grounds - in 2020. Visitors are welcome during opening times or by arrangement, and the room is also open during school events and village occasions. We're always looking for new items and stories - if you have something that tells a part of Harbury's history, we'd love to hear from you.
Working with the Village
The Harbury Heritage Group consists of a committee of around 12 people linked to the village, giving their time freely. We work closely with the local school and community groups to bring Harbury's history to life, hosting tours for other local history groups, exhibitions and open days, and running an annual village treasure hunt.
The group is partly funded by voluntary contributions and sales of publications. Our most recent, Life in Victorian Harbury, is a 108-page illustrated book about living in the village during the Victorian era. We are always looking for volunteers to come and join us, helping to preserve Harbury's heritage - contact us if you are interested. We look forward to seeing you.
