In the early 1990s, as a result of an initiative of the Calne Town Council and the Calne Project, a working party was set up to pursue the aim of establishing a heritage centre in Calne.  Its first achievement was to mount an exhibition in 1992 called 'A Taste of Harris' covering the history of the Harris bacon industry in Calne.  It was a great success and some of the material is now on display in the Centre.

For 10 years, the working party sought to find suitable premises for the Centre eventually settling on an arrangement with the Calne Town Council to lease the Carnegie Building, the former site of the town's library until the new building was opened in 2001.

The Centre has been created and is managed by the voluntary work of the Trustees and is staffed by volunteers provided by the Friends of the Centre.