The Wheatley Heritage Trail

The first heritage trail (green trim on the right), of about 1 mile in length, was launched in 2019 for anyone to walk, preferably starting at the Merry Bells where an interpretation board is on the side of the building in the walkway between the High Street and the car park. Boards are also at the top of the car park behind the King and Queen and viewed from the Church Road pavement; on the approach to the Church Road recreation ground; in Station Road just below the Sidings development and close to the pedestrian crossing; and in Crown Square below the road sign on the URC building. Leaflet dispensers can be found adjacent to the boards by the Merry Bells, the URC church in Crown Square and by the SODC carpark bus stop, this leaflet (green trim) takes you around the trail and shows the key buildings. There is also a QR code on the dispeners which will download the leaflet onto your phone.

Alternatively, you can undertake the walk using our 14 minute video, which has all the images and a description which you can pause at each stopping point.  Start from the Merry bells car park then click here to open the video and press play.

A second video has been created enabling you to step back to 1950 and walk around Wheatley discovering what buildings existed at that time and whole stretches which were undeveloped. Start from the Merry Bells car park click here for the YouTube video.

The financial support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and Wheatley W.I., who sponsored the Merry Bells board, are gratefully acknowledged. A big thank you also to local artists Victor Churchley and the late Bernard Hickey for the use of their paintings on the two main boards.

A second greater heritage trail (blue trim), of about 3 miles in length, was added in 2021. It traces the industrial background to Wheatley's successes and its locational importance. Accompanying leaflets (blue trim) for this walk can be found in the dispensers around the village, or can be downloaded here. 

The Archive team hope that you will enjoy these informative walks around our village. If you would like a guided walk, contact Michael Heaton at info@wheatleyarchive.org.uk or by telephone on 01865 425909.