Cogges Manor

Cogges Manor is a historic farmhouse in the village of Cogges, on the edge of Witney in Oxfordshire, England. Together with its farmstead it forms Cogges Manor Farm, a heritage centre run by a charitable trust and open to the public.

What is Cogges Manor Farm?

The site was once a working farm and is now a living-history attraction. The manor house dates back to the 13th century and stands among farm buildings from the 18th century, so visitors see several layers of rural English life in one place. Because the farm is a heritage centre rather than a conventional museum with glass cases, the emphasis is on how people actually lived and worked on the land.

How old is Cogges?

The settlement is much older than the house itself. Cogges is mentioned in the Domesday Book, where a man named Wadard is recorded as lord of the manor in 1086. That means the place has more than nine centuries of documented history, which the centre presents as over a thousand years of the story of Cogges and its people.

From family farm to heritage centre

The last family to live and farm here was the Mawle family, who stayed until 1975. Oxfordshire County Council had bought the farm in 1974 and opened the house and farmstead as a museum in 1979. The museum closed in 2009. The Cogges Heritage Trust then took over and reopened the site to visitors in 2011, and the trust still runs it today.

What can you see and do?

Inside the manor house, the upstairs rooms include a Victorian schoolroom and a nursery, which give a sense of childhood in a past century. Outside, the former farmyard and its buildings show how a mixed farm was organised. The centre also runs workshops on food production, local history and rural crafts, along with festivals and other events during the year. It is a sensible choice for families and for anyone interested in English rural heritage.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Cogges Manor? In Cogges, a short distance from the centre of Witney in Oxfordshire. Wikidata describes it as a farmhouse in Cogges, Witney.

Is it the same as the Witney museum? No. Witney & District Museum on the High Street is a separate site that covers the town's history and its blanket-weaving tradition. Cogges Manor Farm is a different place on the edge of town.

Who runs it? A charitable trust, the Cogges Heritage Trust, which reopened it in 2011.

Are opening times and prices fixed? They change over time, so check the official website, cogges.org.uk, before you plan your visit.

Is it only a museum? No. Besides the historic house and farm buildings, there are workshops, festivals and events, so it works as a community and learning venue as well as a visitor attraction.