“Ocean Villas” WW1 and WW2 Museum, Auchonvillers
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This is a collection of rare and important militaria and memorabilia from the First and Second World Wars, gathered over many years by military historian and collector André Coillot. To prevent the collection from being dispersed Avril Williams purchased it in its entirety and has re-housed it in a refurbished building next to her guest house and tea rooms.
This museum is the only military collection on the Somme battlefields which comprises First and Second World War artefacts. This museum was opened on 1 July 2008 by Major Tonie and Mrs Valmai Holt.
An Educational Venue
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In 1992 Avril Williams and her two children arrived at Auchonvillers and moved into an abandoned farmhouse. Over the past twenty years the family has renovated the farmhouse and it has become well-known as a popular venue for visitors to the Somme battlefields. The village was renamed “Ocean Villas” by the British soldiers after they arrived on this part of the Somme battlefront in the summer of 1915.
Avril and her family named their farmhouse “Ocean Villas” and have expanded the site to comprise numerous educational facilities for visitors, including a venue for lectures, the museum and an orignal section of British trench.
“Ocean Villas” is one of the founding members of the Somme Battlefields Partners and has been awarded with the Bronze Medal for Tourism.
Visitor Information
Opening Hours
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Open daily from 10.00 - 16.00 hours
Admission Charges
Individual
- Adult: Euros 5,00
- Child over 10yrs old: Euros 3,00
- Senior citizen: Euros 3,00
Group (over 20 persons)
- Euros 4,00 per person
Contact Details
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Groups wishing to visit the museum or to use the facility of the group room for talks or meals can contact Avril Williams.
Address: Ocean Villas, 10 rue Delattre, 80560 Auchonvillers, France
Telephone & fax: +33 (0)3 22 76 23 66
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.avrilwilliams.eu
Location of “Ocean Villas” Museum
Latitude N 50 ° 4' 49.015" ; Longitude E 2° 37' 52.229" ; Latitude: 50.080282; Longitude: 2.631175
The museum is located opposite Avril Williams' “Ocean Villas” Guest House and Tea Rooms in the south part of Auchonvillers village. It is approximately 1 kilometre north of Newfoundland Memorial Park.
Related Topic
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For a list of museums on the Somme battlefields see our page: