David Cameron visited Cogges on 21st January to learn more about how this Witney heritage attraction hopes to transform its fortunes for the future. Cogges was run by Oxfordshire County Council as a museum of rural life from 1978 until the site closed to the public in August 2009. A new Charitable Trust hopes to take over the running of the site later this year and will revitalise Cogges, creating enterprise opportunities for local people whilst preserving the site as a community resource and viable visitor attraction.
The new vision for Cogges is based around the theme of food – past, present and future. The aim will be to return Cogges to being an active farmstead, run by a smallholder who will live on site. Through volunteering and training opportunities, courses and workshops, school learning activities and other visitor experiences, people will learn about food production past and present and share in the journey to a more sustainable life.
David Cameron, MP for Witney, said: ‘I am delighted to see that there is a viable plan for this wonderful West Oxfordshire asset. It is a beautiful and important site, and the Trust’s plans clearly present a huge opportunity for those of us lucky enough to live near it to play a part in its future’.
Anyone interested in getting involved with Cogges, through volunteering, setting up a Cogges branded enterprise or commercial partnership, should contact the Trust at: coggesheritagetrust@gmail.com
