Garden City Collection

Garden City Collection The Garden City Collection is Letchworth's ACE-Accredited Museum service

We tell the story of the Garden City Movement and the history of Letchworth, the world’s first Garden City. Our collection and archive is housed in our Study Centre and features in exhibitions around the town, on our website and by our Store Tours or Collections Explorer sessions.

11/06/2026

We’re excited to be working with a local artist and digital creator, Luke Harries, on an immersive digital trail called *Letchworth Whimsical Quest*

Watch the video and let Luke explain a little bit more about what you can expect - looks like a lot of fun!

It’s on this Saturday 13th June, and there are still tickets available here: https://www.whimsicalquest.com/booking-calendar/letchworth-quest-1

Learn more about the history of Letchworth during this year’s Letchworth Festival.Join us for a special series of herita...
09/06/2026

Learn more about the history of Letchworth during this year’s Letchworth Festival.

Join us for a special series of heritage talks and guided walks led by local historian Josh Tidy. Explore the town’s historic highlights on an evening walk on Tuesday 9 June, 7–9pm, discover the town’s past at Letchworth History 101 on Tuesday 16 June, 7.30–9pm, enjoy another guided walk on Sunday 21 June, 2–4pm, and get insight into Letchworth in World War II on Wednesday 24 June, 7.30–9pm.

All events take place or start at the Museum at One Garden City, with tickets £10.

Whether you’re a lifelong resident or new to the Garden City, this is a brilliant way to uncover the people, places and stories that shaped Letchworth.

Book now via Eventbrite:

Illustrated Talk: 'Letchworth History 101' [link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/illustrated-talk-letchworth-history-101-by-local-historian-josh-tidy-tickets-1987689791674 ]

Walking Tour: Letchworth's Historic Highlights [link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/walking-tour-letchworths-historic-highlights-sunday-21st-june-tickets-1987688647251 ]

Illustrated Talk: 'Letchworth in World War II' [link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/illustrated-talk-letchworth-in-world-war-ii-by-local-historian-josh-tidy-tickets-1987690273114 ]

We have a number of exciting events planned as part of this year's Letchworth FestivalOne of them, which we're really ex...
04/06/2026

We have a number of exciting events planned as part of this year's Letchworth Festival

One of them, which we're really excited about, is this collaboration with a local artist called 'Letchworth Whimsical Quest' - on Saturday 13th June - an interactive trail quest through Letchworth, on your phone and supported by live actors and other interactions...

Please watch the video to find out more, and visit www.whimsicalquest.com to book your slot!

Adventure awaits!

RECENT ARRIVALS: did you know that Letchworth Garden City has three twin towns, the first of which was Kristiansand in N...
23/05/2026

RECENT ARRIVALS: did you know that Letchworth Garden City has three twin towns, the first of which was Kristiansand in Norway. Located in the south of Norway, Kristiansand is a popular tourist destination with a ‘city beach’ that hosts an annual music festival.

Kristiansand Way in Letchworth takes its name from our twin town, though it looks a little different to the images on this postcard..

RECENT ARRIVALS: last year we acquired a set of slides from the 1960s and 70s. This photograph from June 1973 shows a vi...
19/05/2026

RECENT ARRIVALS: last year we acquired a set of slides from the 1960s and 70s. This photograph from June 1973 shows a view to the south from Kennedy Gardens, including the iconic poplars with St Michael’s church in the background.

Known as Broadway Gardens since the relandscaping in 2003, this area was intended as a central focal point from the very first plans of Letchworth Garden City by Parker & Unwin. Originally planned to be the location of civic buildings and known as Town Square, the site ended up being developed in a more piecemeal fashion over the years and has remained a fully open space.

RECENT ARRIVALS: another postcard that we recently accessioned into the collections here is this linocut by Lynn Evans, ...
09/05/2026

RECENT ARRIVALS: another postcard that we recently accessioned into the collections here is this linocut by Lynn Evans, produced for Letchworth Museum and Art Gallery in 2003 (Letchworth's centenary year).
Here we see some of Letchworth’s most iconic buildings stacked atop each other.

What is you favourite building in Letchworth, and is it included here?

This week is National Gardening Week. Parks and gardens, both public and private have always played an important role in...
02/05/2026

This week is National Gardening Week.
Parks and gardens, both public and private have always played an important role in Letchworth Garden City (it’s even in the name).

A number of plant nurseries have existed in and around Letchworth over the town’s history, one of the most significant being Harkness’ Roses, specialists in the care and growth of roses.

As can be seen in these photographs from the 1950s – 1980s, Harkness’ Roses previously occupied what is now Hitchin Garden Centre, growing their own rose cultivars and regularly exhibiting at the Chelsea Flower Show.

RECENT ARRIVALS: we are always looking out for interesting objects that help us tell the story of Letchworth Garden City...
04/04/2026

RECENT ARRIVALS: we are always looking out for interesting objects that help us tell the story of Letchworth Garden City and its people.
We recently added this postcard to our collections – a postcard about postcards no less!
Printed for ‘The British Postcard Centenary’, celebrated by Hertfordshire Postcard Club at their 9th Postcard Fair, held at Plinston Hall in Letchworth on 14th May 1995.

Do you have any unusual postcards at home? Share with us in the comments!

Check back for more objects that have recently arrived in our collections over the coming weeks.

http://gardencitycollection.com/object-2025-4

Barry Parker exhibition at Broadway Gallery - final week!Sunlight was central to Barry Parker’s work, from modest cottag...
25/02/2026

Barry Parker exhibition at Broadway Gallery - final week!

Sunlight was central to Barry Parker’s work, from modest cottages to grand private homes. He considered it essential to health, not merely a design luxury. He wrote of wellbeing long before it became a popular concept:
“Beauty is a preventive and curative medicine; it makes us happy and therefore in good health.”
For Parker, careful orientation began with the layout of the site, continued to the placement of individual houses, and extended to the arrangement of rooms. Each space was designed with its function in mind at different times of the day.

In this sketch for a house near Brussels, A large bow window maximises daylight, with white tiling offering further reflection creating a bright and airy room.

Barry Parker: Art of Building a Home continues at Broadway Gallery until 7 March.

https://www.broadway-gallery.com/whats-on/barry-parker-2025/

Join us at the Broadway Gallery on Saturday 7th March for an engaging talk on the domestic architecture of Barry Parker ...
21/02/2026

Join us at the Broadway Gallery on Saturday 7th March for an engaging talk on the domestic architecture of Barry Parker by Daniel Stilwell, architect and architectural historian.

Focusing on Parker’s work as an architect, the talk will explore his approach to creating light, warm, and cohesive interiors that were both practical and beautiful.

Barry Parker: Art of Building a Home is open now and continues until 7th March.

https://www.broadway-gallery.com/whats-on/straightforwardarch/

Address

Wilbury Study Centre, Wilbury Hills Road
Letchworth
SG64LB

Telephone

+447713565650

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