South East
This section covers museum collections in the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex. Working links to partner institutions coming soon.
Berkshire
The Museum of English Rural Life
They say 'The Museum of English Rural Life is one of the best things to do in Reading. Enjoy our free, immersive galleries, and relax in our cafe and garden!'
Reading Museum & Town Hall
They say 'Reading Museum has been providing award-winning opportunities for learning, inspiration and enjoyment since 1883 and provides hands-on learning services with a national reputation for innovation and excellence.'
Special Collections - University of Reading
They say 'Special Collections brings together the University of Reading’s collections of rare books, archives and manuscripts. A remarkable resource for collections-based learning and research across the University, the collections are here for everyone to discover, explore, and be fascinated by.'
Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology, University of Reading
They say 'The Museum was established by the University's first professor of Classics, Professor P.N. Ure, and his wife, Dr A.D. Ure, who until her death in 1976 acted as curator. Their aim was to build up a collection of that would be representative of the different areas of manufacture of Greek pottery, as well as a glimpse into the world of the ancient Greeks, both in daily life and as tomb offerings.'
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire County Museum
They say 'We look after a large collection of objects gathered from all around Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes over the last 150 years - from archaeology to art, from costume and coins to wildlife, plants and geology. We also have lots of information linked to these collections, an important resource about people, places, wildlife and geology.'
Milton Keynes Museum
They say 'The Museum was founded in 1973 when a group of local people began to collect items found in farms and factories that were being closed down to make way for the development of Milton Keynes, the UK’s last ‘new city’.'
East Sussex
Brighton Museum & Art Gallery
They say 'Set in the heart of the city’s cultural quarter, Brighton Museum & Art Gallery is located in the Royal Pavilion gardens. Its rich collections and exciting exhibits are dynamically displayed in stimulating surroundings.'
Hastings Museum and Art Gallery
They say 'Hastings Museum contains a rich and exotic mixture of fine paintings and china, the cultures of other lands, well-known personalities such as John Logie Baird and Robert Tressell, and a contrasting view of local wildlife today and as it would have been 150 million years ago.'
Redoubt Fortress and Military Museum
They say 'One of the South Coast's most historic landmarks, discover over 200 years of history at this Napoleonic Fortress, named one of the top ten military museums in the UK. Built to defend the South Coast from Napoleon's forces it still stands as a unique monument to that time and now houses the largest military collection of its kind in the south of England.'
Rye Castle Museum
They say 'Rye Castle Museum exists to provide access to a Scheduled Monument (the Ypres Tower or Rye Castle) and a collection of artefacts – presently housed primarily at a second site on East Street – that reflect the history of the Ancient Town of Rye.'
Hampshire
St Barbe Museum
They say 'The museum explores the history of Lymington and the New Forest Coast, inspired by local pride, and supported by the local community, its collections and colourful, hands-on displays offer a fascinating insight into the area for all ages.'
Southampton Cultural Services
The archaeology collection comprises records and artefacts from excavation work in the city, beginning with casual work in the 19th century and continuing with more structured work to the present day.
Winchester College
They say 'Converted from a 14th-century stable block, the Treasury is home to Winchester College’s collections of art and archaeology.'
Winchester MuseumsLink opens in a new window
In the City Museum, three galleries tell the story of Winchester's past from the Iron Age to the present. Features include mosaics and reconstructed Victorian High Street shops.
Kent
Canterbury Museums and GalleriesLink opens in a new window
They say 'Welcome to Canterbury Museums & Galleries, home to The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge, Canterbury Heritage Museums and Canterbury Roman Museum. Join us as we bring the cities culture, art and heritage to life.'
ChartwellLink opens in a new window
They say 'Chartwell was the much-loved Churchill family home and the place from which Sir Winston drew inspiration from 1924 until the end of his life. The rooms remain much as they were when he lived here, with pictures, books and personal mementoes evoking the career and wide-ranging interests of a great statesman, writer, painter and family man.'
Guildhall Museum, RochesterLink opens in a new window
They say 'The Rochester Guildhall was built in 1687 and is one of the finest 17th-century civic buildings in Kent. The museum was founded in 1897, in honour of Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee. It was first set up in Eastgate House further along the High Street and was moved into the Guildhall in 1979.'
Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Art GalleryLink opens in a new window
Maidstone Museum is housed in a charming Elizabethan Manor House, in the centre of Maidstone - Kent's County Town. Each gallery will fascinate and surprise; with a wealth of exhibits and objects to see and enjoy as well as regular storytelling, wiggle & jiggle and children's holiday activities.
Royal Military Canal
Historic coin collection acquired by Dorothy Johnston of Hallhouse Farm, Appledore, donated to the National Trust.
Oxfordshire
Founded in 1683, the Ashmolean is Britain’s first public museum and home to the University of Oxford’s world-class collections of art and archaeology.
Surrey
Guildford MuseumLink opens in a new window
‘Guildford Museum is located within historic buildings next to Guildford Castle Grounds.
The museum is free to visit and is home to a permanent collection of objects from Guildford and the surrounding Borough, dating from prehistoric times to the present day.
The museum also runs a variety of changing exhibitions’.
Museum of Military MedicineLink opens in a new window
They say 'The museum tells the story of army medicine and healthcare, human and animal, from the English Civil War to the current day, as Army Medical Services personnel continue to serve across the globe as part of the British Army.'
West Sussex
Worthing Museum and Art GalleryLink opens in a new window
They say 'You’re guaranteed a warm welcome at this friendly museum that is packed with so much to see! Worthing residents are proud of this historical gem in their town centre and rightly so.'