Chertsey Museum

30/05/2026

Jeanne and Tim from Boston Massachusetts, pose next to our portrait of Rt Hon Charles James Fox who was a great supporter of American independence

29/05/2026

Another school holiday job is to check over all the talk boxes, make any running repairs necessary after a term of use, and pack them ready for the next term. This Ancient Greeks box includes wonderful masks made for us by Victor Spink

29/05/2026

Friday Frocks - This glittering evening gown, c.1926 – 27, is made from silver lace with inserts of ivory silk satin. The central section features embroidered paste bead decoration in the form of bows. Further glass beadwork of pastes and bugle beads has been added to the lace. Undulating hemlines such as this were a common feature of women’s fashions from the latter half of the 1920s. They added interest to the prevailing tubular silhouette and pre-empted more radical change to hemlines which occurred late in the decade.

28/05/2026

Another hot day, another holiday craft activity! This time they were weaving bowls!

28/05/2026

This Saturday is the last day to come and see our schools exhibition as we swap to a new display curated by some of the Ukrainians in Runnymede who have been displaced by the war. So, to give you a taste of what you'll miss if you don't see the exhibition, today's Throwback Thursday is pupils at Englefield Green School, c.1910!

The school was founded in 1827 by the local people, including King George IV, who gave £50 towards the building costs and a further annual contribution of £20. This was a royal tradition that continued until after the Second World War. The building cost £420 and was large enough for 150 boys and 110 girls, in separate areas. Within a few decades the school was expanded to enable more local children to attend. At this time families had to pay for their offspring to go; 2d per week for boys and girls and 1d for infants. The boys’ and girls’ schools merged in 1947, and by 1967 the pupils were attending a new school, St. Jude’s, in Bagshot Road.

Alas, despite efforts by locals to keep the old school building, it was demolished in December 1983, and Englefield Close was built on the site the following year.

27/05/2026

Just because it's half term and the sun is shining doesn't mean the education team can relax. There's loads of resources to prep for next term but luckily the education supplies are kept in the coolest place in the museum - the cellar!

26/05/2026

Despite the heat it was a busy first session of our half term holiday activities this morning making lighthouse style bird houses

23/05/2026

Museums these days have strict collecting policies setting out what they will and won't collect. For the local history collection items have to relate to the Borough of Runnymede. For the Olive Matthews Collection it has to fit with Olive's original aims. We're not sure the offerings we have found in the museum garden fit that remit. Thank you Mr Fox, but it's a no from us!

22/05/2026

There’s lots going on at Chertsey Museum this half term- find out more and book at https://www.zeffy.com/en-GB/organizations/friends-of-chertsey-museum

We're now taking bookings for our half term holiday activities - https://www.zeffy.com/en-GB/organizations/friends-of-chertsey-museum

22/05/2026

Today the curator met with Ian Mawson and Jocelyn Barker from Addlestone Historical Society to discuss Runnymede Borough Council plans for new signage in Addlestone