Preston Park Museum and Grounds

29/05/2026

Are you feeling inspired by the bicentenary of local chemist John Walker and his accidental invention of the friction match? 🧪✨

🔥 If so join us at Preston Park Museum tomorrow (Saturday 30 May) from 1pm until 4pm where our Preston Park Young Producers will be presenting their exciting Strike Up a Story event.

🎁📖 This blind book-picking event celebrates the thrill of unexpected finds. Each mystery book is wrapped – no covers, no spoilers! 🤫

Get involved, and celebrate creativity, storytelling, and community with this brilliant group of young people who are looking forward to meeting you all!

📍 Taking place at Preston Park Museum (museum pass required)

📅 Saturday 30 May, 1–4pm

Here’s how it works:

📚 Donate a book you’ve loved

💬 Leave a clue to spark the next reader’s adventure

🎁 Take home a mystery book from the shelf

Curiosity. Starts Here.

28/05/2026

💥🧪 Big Science is coming to Preston Park Museum this half term! 🧪💥
Watch thrilling live demonstrations including Dry Ice, the Air Cannon and the fiery Whoosh Bottle, as Big Science brings experiments to life.

🕒 Drop in shows running throughout the day
📅 Sunday 31 May
🎫Included with your Museum Pass, buy your Museum Pass online before you visit

🏛️🔥Wonder. Starts Here.

26/05/2026

🧵✨ Help Us Care for Our Costume Collection! ✨🧵
We’re looking for helping hands to create padded coat hangers for costumes from our collection 👗🧥
Join our friendly, relaxed session led by our talented Sewing Bees 🐝 — come along and get creative!
📅 Wednesday 3 June
🕐 1–4pm
☕ Cuppa and biscuits provided
To book your place, please email [email protected]
We’d love to see you there! 💛

26/05/2026

Inspired by the bicentenary of local chemist John Walker and his accidental invention of the friction match 🧪✨, Preston Park Young Producers present Strike Up a Story 📚🔥
📍 Taking place at Preston Park Museum (museum pass required)
📅 Saturday 30 May, 1–4pm
This blind book-picking event celebrates the thrill of unexpected finds 🎁📖. Each mystery book is wrapped – no covers, no spoilers! 🤫
Here’s how it works:
📚 Donate a book you’ve loved
💬 Leave a clue to spark the next reader’s adventure
🎁 Take home a mystery book from the shelf

Curiosity. Starts Here.

24/05/2026

We can’t wait to welcome you to Preston Park Museum this half term. To make the most of your visit, we recommend:
🎫You need an annual or day pass to visit the museum
📱Buy your Museum Pass online. It will save you time on the day of your visit – and there’s no need to worry if you lose your pass —we can easily look you up and reissue it.
✅Already have a Museum Pass? Don’t forget to bring it with you
ℹ️Check our website to see opening times and what’s on

See you soon!

23/05/2026

💥🧪 Big Science is coming to Preston Park Museum this half term! 🧪💥
Watch thrilling live demonstrations including Dry Ice, the Air Cannon and the fiery Whoosh Bottle, as Big Science brings experiments to life.

🕒 Drop-in shows running throughout the day
📅 Monday 25 and Sunday 31 May
🎫Included with your Museum Pass, buy your Museum Pass online before you visit

🏛️🔥Wonder. Starts Here.

22/05/2026

This half term, we are celebrating Stockton chemist John Walker, who accidentally changed the world 200 years ago by inventing the friction match 🔥
Enjoy family friendly fun with live science shows, crafts including, decorate your own matchbox and a special museum trail.
⚖️Don’t forget to journey back in time at the Chemist on Victorian Street, where you can explore life in John Walker’s era and see an original friction match on display in The Hall.

🎟️ All activities are included with your Museum Pass. Please buy your pass online to save time on arrival.

Find out what's on and plan your visit here https://prestonparkmuseum.co.uk/whats-on

22/05/2026

⚠️STAY WATER SAFE ⚠️
As temperatures rise this weekend and into next week it can be tempting to dip into open water, but there are often hidden dangers which everyone should be aware of.

Read the important safety message below 👇

⚠️STAY WATER SAFE ⚠️

As temperatures rise this weekend and into next week it can be tempting to dip into open water, but there are often hidden dangers which everyone should be aware of.

🔴It's often extremely cold and people can get into difficulty and drown. 🔴Cold water shock can kill in less than a minute.
🔴There may be hidden currents.
🔴 It's hard to judge the depth of open water.
🔴 There are no lifeguards.

Follow our top tips to stay safe:

🔴Look for the warning or guidance signs
🔴Supervise children closely near water.
🔴Never jump into open water.
🔴Take care when walking or running near open water.
🔴Call 999 immediately if you see someone in trouble.

Councillor Norma Stephenson, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Access, Communities and Community Safety, said: “Open water can look really inviting in warm weather but the hidden risks can be fatal, so we would always advise against swimming in the river.

“Where the water is accessible in parks and open spaces there are warning signs to help prevent accidents but if you do want to go for a dip, we encourage people to visit one of our leisure centre pools, where you can swim safely and comfortably in the presence of a lifeguard.”

Cleveland Fire Brigade’s Group Manager, Head of Prevention and Engagement Richie Brown, said: “Many people don’t realise how dangerous water can be, even on warm, sunny days. We’re asking people to take simple precautions, plan a safe route home, stay away from rivers, lakes and the coast, and never underestimate the effects of cold water. One small decision near water can have devastating consequences, but many of these incidents are preventable.”

Preston Park Museum and Grounds | Tees Active | Cleveland Fire Brigade UK