Worthing Museum

29/08/2026

*Special Event: Free Roman Coin Hoard Workshop*

Wednesday 30th September, 10:30-13:30

Join Professor Ellen Swift & Dr Kelly Clarke-Neish for a *FREE* interactive workshop to discover the hidden stories of 'Britain's Last Roman Hoards'

Through a mix of presentation and activities, including an opportunity to handle the famous Patching Hoard, you'll uncover what these hoards reveal about everyday life, shifting economies and identities in post-Roman Britain.

This event is supported by the UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council as part of the 'Britain's last Roman Hoards: wealth, power and culture in the fifth century' project.

Please book your free ticket through the link below - spaces are limited!

Some they hid in the earth…and some they carried away’.This entry in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle tells the story of what happened to precious metal treasure

27/08/2026

Have you seen our new Local Finders case?

We have a new display case in our Archaeology Gallery dedicated to celebrating Local Finders. Every six months we will be changing the case to new local members of the public who have found archaeology in the Worthing or wider Sussex areas. This can be through metal detecting, field walking or just by chance! The only stipulation is that the finds are recorded through the British Museum's The Portable Antiquities Scheme. This is easy to do as we have the local Sussex Finds Liaison Officer visit us here in Worthing every three months to record new finds made by the public.

Our Local Finders case begins with Kevin Paine, an enthusiastic metal detectorist who has spent many years surveying sites on the Downs. His favourite find to date is a 9th century silver decorated strap-end, a decorative piece of high status (see below) It presents with the 'Trewhiddle' style (so named after the village in Cornwall where this style was first discovered in 1774) Kevin has helped reveal three hitherto unknown sites in the local area, and continues to help local archaeologists in their research.

Do you have a collection of finds made through metal detecting or field walking? If so there is now an opportunity to display your finds in the museum for our visitors to enjoy!

19/08/2026

Burpham Big Dig Exhibition: Frozen Charlotte Doll, c. 1880

A widely popular 19th century doll depicting a frozen co**se!

The Frozen Charlottes recalled a cautionary tale of 'Fair Charlotte', a young woman who froze to death on a New Year's Eve sleigh ride because she refused to cover her fine dress with a warm blanket.

Sometimes sold for as little as a penny, Frozen Charlottes were made of porcelain and could vary in size. They would be baked into puddings or used in doll's houses. This particular example is only 2cm high and was found in Trench A during the Burpham Big Dig in 2024.

Below we have a poem written by Cherrie Taylor after seeing the doll in the exhibition. Cherrie has other poems in our Archaeology Gallery relating to two special artefacts on permanent display - have you seen them yet?

Frozen Charlotte

I hold you in my hand
warm to my touch – not frozen
you were buried beneath the earth for so long

when you were lifted from the soil
you blinked hoping it was Alice
the child who cradled you

you were baked in a birthday cake
Alice was delighted – so tiny
she kept you warm not liking the name
you were given – the story about
the little girl who froze – died in the snow.

Alice was playing in the garden
dropped you in the long grass
you screamed but she didn’t hear you

it was winter – snowflakes touched your face
shivering with fear – your tummy hurt
would the story come true
with no blanket to keep you warm . . .

crawling into a shallow rabbit burrow
you found warmth and care in a nest with baby kittens
you fell asleep for over a hundred years
only woken in the dig

Charlotte finds her voice . . .

what now I’ve been rescued . . .
I’m displayed in a cabinet given a number 15
and a description which is wrong –
I was not put in a Christmas pudding
I was baked in Alice’s birthday cake

I’m lonely
I need a little girl to hold me
to treasure me again

18/08/2026

You've got just three weeks left to visit or revisit the OPEN26 Exhibition before it closes on Saturday 5 September.

This year's exhibition theme is Sustainability, exploring ideas about climate, the environment, materials, and the future. The exhibition responds to both the Museum’s recent transformation and the wider importance of environmental responsibility.

The Museum is open Wed, Fri and Sat 10am - 5pm and Thu 10am - 8pm.

Thanks to the generous support of The National Lottery Heritage Fund entry to the OPEN26 exhibition has been free this year.

14/08/2026

We're delighted to announce that our special suffrage banner, c.1910, has just returned from Zenzie Tinker Conservation Ltd. in Brighton, and has just been installed in our Costume Gallery.

The banner was worked on by Conservation Masters student Imani (pictured with our curator Gerry) and we are thrilled with her work and the results!

This textile piece was created by the Surrey, Sussex and Hants Suffrage Federation, which was affiliated with the national women's suffrage movement. We believe this banner was used on their 1913 Suffrage Pilgrimage, from Portsmouth to Hyde Park (pictured below)

14/08/2026

*New Exhibition - Main Gallery*

The wonderful OPEN26 will be ending on Saturday 5th September, making way for 'Reflexion', opening on Saturday 26th September

Reflexion: enchantment, self-identity and film is an exhibition by Cathy Lomax, bringing together painting, installation, video and found objects to explore the captivating power of film and the image of the film star.

It will also feature contributions by Alex Michon and Tamar Jeffers McDonald, alongside a programme of talks, workshops and film screenings - the first film/gallery talk event is coming in November.

More details coming soon.

Sponsored by GWCA Solicitors

13/08/2026

Meet Our Volunteers!

Cadan has been volunteering with us for two years, helping us to catalogue and identify pieces from our extensive geological collection. Cadan often brings his fossil preparation equipment, as seen here, to clean the fossils and remove surrounding rock from new acquisitions!

His specialism is the Mesozoic era, better known as the 'Age of the Dinosaurs'

We have few actual dinosaur bones in our collections, but we do have the fossilised remains of thousands of sea creatures that inhabited the warm tropical seas at the time, long before their bodies formed the chalk of Sussex!

08/08/2026

It's a busy time for dinosaurs. 🦕

With Jurassic Park roaring back onto the big screen, PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie stomping into the Connaught Cinema and Dinosaur World Live heading to the Pavilion, it feels like the right time to celebrate our very own prehistoric resident here at Worthing Museum!

This school holidays, little ones can get hands-on and help decorate our giant dinosaur using acrylic paint pens - for just £2.50 a go. Every section is different, every visit adds something new, and it's the perfect activity to keep creative minds busy.

Pop in and pick up a pen - we'd love to see what you create! 🎨

📍 Worthing Museum & Art Gallery, Chapel Road, Worthing

07/08/2026

Take a closer look at the OPEN26 exhibition currently on at the Museum.

This year's exhibition has been shaped through an open selection process, featuring work by artists who live or work in Sussex. The result is a diverse and inspiring collection that reflects the talent and perspectives of our local community.

On until Saturday 5 September.

Supported by players of the National Lottery through the The National Lottery Heritage Fund

23/07/2026

We are opening on Wednesdays 10:00-17:00 from next week!

From 29th July the museum will be open on Wednesdays again once more - remember it is *FREE* to visit us!

Open:
Wednesday 10:00-17:00
Thursday 10:00-20:00
Friday 10:00-17:00
Saturday 10:00-17:00