Royston & District Museum 
     Lower King Street
Royston
SG8 5AL
Hertfordshire
England 
 
 
Collection details
Archaeology , Archives , Fine Art , Music , Social History
 
Facilities
 
Contact details
General information (Tel) : 01763 242587
 
Open
Wed-Thurs Sat 1000-1700
Sun 1400-1700
 
 
 
 
Facilities
Shop

 Brief History of the Museum

Royston is a small market town which grew up at the point where two ancient roads cross—the Icknield Way and Ermine Street.  Its history is reflected in the Royston Tapestry at the Museum, a project initiated in 1992 by the present curator and depicting scenes from the town’s past.

A museum was first established in Royston in 1856, when it was housed in the Institute Building, but in 1901 a decision was taken to close it and the collection was unfortunately sent for auction and dispersed. Many of the finest items, such as the tapestry hangings from King James's Palace were bought by collectors, though some have been returned through the generosity of individual purchasers. In 1965 the Royston and District Local History Society (see Links page) was formed with the main aim of providing a Museum for the town. Members collected and housed items of local historical interest throughout the area and in 1976 a small room at the back of the Town Hall opened as a museum, manned by volunteers from the History Society. In 1979 the Museum moved to a larger room at the Town Hall with a storeroom attached.  In 1984, after discussions between the Town Council, the Local History Society and the Trustees of the Royston and District Local History Society Trust, the Museum was opened in the present building - the old Congregational Church Schoolroom.  At the time of the re-opening five trustees were nominated by the Local History Society to oversee the collection, and they serve with elected Councillors on the Royston Town Council’s Museum Sub-Committee.

Guided by successive curators, and with the enthusiastic support of the Local History Society and Friends’ organisations, the collection has continued to expand in order to reflect the rapid progress of the twentieth century.  In addition to the current display there is an extensive photographic, newspaper, and document collection (made available for research purposes by appointment), costumes/textiles, and an art collection which includes major holdings of paintings and etchings by E Herbert Whydale.

The Museum is also fortunate in being able to display a magnificent collection of ceramics and glass from the later part of the nineteenth century through to the present day. This is the property of a private collector, who has generously made it available on long-term loan.  It includes Laurence McGowan's magnificent Royston Charger, commissioned to commemorate the beginning of a new millennium.

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