The Bampton Archive was founded in 2002 to record and save the social history of this unique village in Oxfordshire.

The publicly accessible archive database contains thousands of records relating to life in the village past and present. These include photographs, documents, newspaper cuttings, sound and video files and much more. Each one of them is an important part of the telling of the story of the village: from photographs of the restoration of the church bells; to a stone age hand axe; to the history of the WWII airfields around the village; to the documenting of the filming of Downton Abbey in Bampton.
The restored Old Grammar School

The restored Old Grammar School

As well as the new roof, this included building a new staircase, strengthening of the upper floor to modern requirements for public use, and the fitting out of the upper floor to accommodate local exhibitions as well as our digital archive of the village

The searchable database

The searchable database

The searchable archive contains items relating to life in the village past and present. These include photographs, documents, newspaper cuttings, sound and video files and much more.

Books and videos

Books and videos

You can access and read copies of all our books and publications as well as purchase them right here.

All proceeds from sales go back to the Bampton Community Archive and your support is much needed and very much appreciated

Current Exhibition - June 2023

30 Years of Bampton Classical Opera by Jeremy Gray

The company originated with a one-off performance in July 1993, created by Bampton couple Gilly French and Jeremy Gray. Gilly, a singer, dreamed of performing the role of Galatea in Handel’s pastoral ‘masque’ Acis and Galatea, and Jeremy was a committee member for West Oxfordshire Arts (WOA, as it is now known) which fortuitously was then considering branching out from traditional visual arts. Thus was born ‘Bampton Summer Opera’, in the charming garden of the historic Deanery, adjacent to the church.

Click here to view the exhibition displays full-screen

Donate to the Downton Mile Appeal

Bampton Community Hub

The Bampton Community Hub at the Old Grammar School is located in the Old Grammar School in Church View Bampton. After a year-long restoration project this wonderful building is now open again and ready to welcome local residents and visitors alike.
Bampton Library

Bampton Library

West Ox Arts

West Ox Arts

The Community Hub

The Community Hub

Get in Touch

We'd love to hear from you if you have any connection to Bampton, or just if you have a question, comment or request.

Contact Us