Barnet Museum

09/05/2026

09/05/2026

Such was the success and respect for Barnet’s former weekly newspaper, The Barnet Press, that a century ago it published an emergency edition on sale each evening in central London during the 1926 General Strike.

09/05/2026

Here’s a treat for you Tudor fans: an extract from Alison’s brand new novel The Boleyn Secret . . .

“The bony fingers clutched at her hand. ‘There is more to tell,’ Mother murmured, ‘for I would unburden my conscience. But not now, though I must sleep. Come back this afternoon.’

Kate kissed her forehead, then closed the door quietly behind her. She went to her room to rest, but feared that sleep would elude her. She was fretting about what her mother wanted to say to her and why she needed to unburden her conscience. Was she about to find out why she had long felt that there was some secret in her past – or her mother’s past? And did she really want to know what it was?"

Alison’s The Boleyn Secret is out 21st May and you can pre-order your copy here: https://linktr.ee/TheBoleynSecret

09/05/2026

Gorgeous views from the top of the tower at a Barnet Church on this wonderful sunny day.

09/05/2026

30/04/2026

Congratulations Hilary Harrison.

A well deserved recipient of a 2026 Barnet Civic Award for Outstanding Community Service.

26/04/2026

Yesterday, our annual Gillian Gear Memorial Lecture was given by the incredible Alison Weir.

Alison’s fascinating talk took the audience on a journey through the lives of five fifteenth‑century queens, exploring themes of love and loss, triumph and tragedy, and murder and malice.

The event had a personal connection for Alison, who lived in Barnet for many years. Our venue, St John the Baptist Church, Barnet, was where her children were baptised.

Thanks go to our friends at Waterstones Barnet, our 150‑strong audience, and, as always, our wonderful team of Barnet Museum volunteers, who ensured the seamless running of the event.

21/04/2026

TODAY, 21st APRIL 2026, IS THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF OUR LATE QUEEN, ELIZABETH II.

For the 70th Anniversary of her reign - her Platinum Jubilee - Barnet Museum published a book, Royalty in Barnet, telling the story of the Queen and her forbears and their relationship with Barnet.

Here we repeat the foreword of that book, penned by Deputy Lieutenant Martin Russell MBE, the Museum's Patron and the Monarch's Representative for the London Borough of Barnet.
Copies of the book are still available from the Museum:

FOREWORD BY
DEPUTY LIEUTENANT MARTIN RUSSELL MBE

Her Majesty The Queen has served this country and its Empire and Commonwealth for seventy years. A record never before achieved in the history of our nation.

Threescore years and ten! The biblical allotted span of a man’s life.

To celebrate and to pay tribute to those years of service, Barnet Museum volunteers have reworked and enhanced the timeline of Royal associations with Barnet.

This fascinating and valuable piece of work reflects on Her commitment and on the record of service of other members of the Royal Family over the centuries, and reminds us and future generations of the importance of this ancient part attracting Royal interest and support.

Early in Her reign, Queen Elizabeth II vowed to Her people that Her days, whether long or short, would be spent in the service of Her people.

Ending Her speech on the seventieth anniversary of the Accession, she signed Herself ‘your servant Elizabeth’.

In the production of this volume, Barnet Museum and Local History Society seeks to honour that service, and to give thanks for the constancy and inspiration of our Sovereign Lady and Her family.
On this astonishing Jubilee, the ancient prayer echoes:

‘God save The Queen’.

19/04/2026

EARLY CLOSING ON SATURDAY 25th APRIL (2.45pm)

Please note:
Because the Gillian Gear Memorial Lecture (given by Dr Alison Weir) is starting at 3pm on Saturday 25th April in Barnet Church, Barnet Museum will close at 2.45pm on that day.

11/04/2026

Big day at Barnet Museum. We came in this morning with all the Battle of Barnet banners flying high (including a Barnet Museum banner) and THEN we received a visit - a Royal visit - from Evie, the Pearly Queen of Barnet. Evie had been doing a bit of charity work at Barnet market. Looking splendid, she visited our Pearly Royal Family display and toured the Museum. What a Star!

08/04/2026

Barnet Museum is proud to announce that the Battle of Barnet Banners are going up again! The team from Bay Media started the three night operation this evening...