FAQs.

Your Visit

  • The Heritage Centre is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 am-1 pm. Please keep an eye on social media and/or the Visit page for changes.

  • For visits during the regular opening times, booking is not required.

  • Yes, the Centre is suitable for wheelchair and pushchair users. However, it’s not possible to use mobility scooters inside the building.

  • Yes, there are toilets, including an accessible unit and a baby changing area adjacent to the main hall.

  • Yes, free parking is available.

Venue Hire

  • The Main Hall is the largest room in the centre, accommodating 60 seated or 100 standing. It can be divided into two smaller rooms if required. 

    The Streather room is a smaller meeting room that comfortably accommodates 10-12 people.

  • Meeting rooms are equipped with tables and chairs and can be set out to suit individual groups’ needs. Audiovisual equipment is available in the main hall.

  • Yes, open flames (candles), glitter, and confetti are often prohibited to protect historic fabric and reduce cleanup risks.

  • Yes, private caterers can be hired; contact details of the caterers to be provided to the centre so that we can advise on facilities.

  • The Heritage Centre shares a community kitchen with various user groups, so allergens such as nuts, gluten, dairy and eggs may be present.

    For private hire events, Chilvers Coton Heritage Centre does not prepare, handle or supply food and accepts no responsibility or liability for food allergens, cross-contamination or dietary reactions.

    The event organiser, or their chosen external caterer, is solely responsible for identifying and managing the 14 legally recognised food allergens, providing appropriate information to guests, and ensuring all food is prepared and served safely.

    For information on the 14 recognised food allergens, please see Food Allergens – Trading Standards Service.

  • The venue is not licensed, therefore you need to have secured a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) for this occasion if you plan to sell alcohol. Alcohol can be served free of charge, but you cannot sell alcohol without a licence. If alcohol is included in the ticket price, it is considered a sale, and a TEN is required.

  • Our hire rates are flexible and depend on the date, duration of your booking and additional services required. We offer competitive rates based on your booking request. More info here.

  • Bookings can be made by using the booking form (here) or by calling the Heritage Centre during opening hours.

  • Cancellations need to be made at least 48 hours in advance to avoid charges.

Venue Hire - Afternoon Teas

  • The Heritage Centre uses the main hall for afternoon teas and can cater for up to 40 people.

  • Bookings typically require 72 hours' notice for catering purposes.

  • Yes, but notice is required often at least 72 hours to accommodate gluten-free, vegan, or allergy requirements.

    The charity operates from a shared community kitchen facility utilized by various independent user groups throughout the week. Consequently, a wide range of allergens including nuts, gluten, dairy, and eggs may be handled on the premises.

    While we take reasonable steps to minimize risks during our afternoon tea events, we cannot guarantee that our preparation areas, utensils, equipment, or ingredients are entirely free from cross-contamination.

    Guests with severe food allergies must take this shared environment into account and assess their own risk before consuming food and drink at our afternoon teas.

  • Typically includes a selection of sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, cakes and a pot of tea.

  • The room hire and catering options start from £15 per head based on dietary requirements.

  • Bookings can be made by using the booking form (here) or by calling the Heritage Centre during opening hours.

  • Cancellations need to be made at least 48 hours in advance to avoid charges.

Family Research

  • The more details, the better (names, dates, locations of births/marriages/deaths).

  • While many families in the UK can be traced to the early 1800s, it depends on record survival.

  • We use ancestry.com and findmypast.com for general searches. The Heritage Centre also has access to a collection of local documents.

  • Tuesday mornings are our main session for family history so it is advisable, particularly if you need one-on-one assistance from one of our research staff.

  • Bring any existing notes, family stories, or photos. You can also bring your laptop, which can make searching easier.

School Visits

  • The Victorian school room can accommodate a maximum of 35 students for each session.

  • We conduct sessions either in the morning or afternoon, each session takes around 2 hours.

  • The school room uses original slates, dip ink pens and students can dress up in traditional clothing of the period. There is role-play with a Victorian schoolmaster/mistress.

  • Not at all, many schools come in their school uniform, it is your choice but it can help the children get into character for the day.

  • Yes this can be arranged, call the Heritage Centre for further details.

  • We currently charge from £35 per class.