Northamptonshire Museums
This International Museum Day (18th May), we're highlighting all the incredible heritage centres we have in our county. From Iron Age items to aerial artefacts, there's tons of history hidden in Northamptonshire's museums!
78 Derngate:
Designed and remodelled by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1916, 78 Derngate has been meticulously restored and opened to the public. 78 Derngate was the architect’s final major commission. His visionary patron? Northampton model engineer, W.J Bassett-Lowke. It's the only place in the world where Mackintosh’s mature architectural and interior style can be seen in their original setting. As such, the house has drawn many thousands of visitors from around the globe. Now you can follow in their footsteps and see this unique work from one of Britain’s most influential and celebrated designers. Famed not only for its Charles Rennie Mackintosh design but now also as an elegant and special venue. Fabulous food, stylish shopping and inspirational art exhibitions. A warm welcome awaits you!
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Abington Park Museum:
There is no better place to tell the story of Abington than in the building that was once the manor house for the extensive Abington estate! The galleries chart the history and development of Abington as it's grown from a medieval manor to a leafy suburb of Northampton. It's designed to allow people of all ages to explore the place where people have made their home, and their experiences past and present. The exhibitions are a growing collection and includes objects relating to the story of the manor house as a home, an asylum, and a museum. Paintings of people living in the house provide a glimpse into the status of the families who lived there. Objects relating to the use of the park include flags and programmes celebrating the local importance of the park and events that took place here.
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Burton Latimer Heritage Museum:
Burton Latimer Heritage Museum is situated in a former health centre, now the Civic Centre. It is managed by Burton Latimer Heritage Society and the museum runs two four-month exhibitions a year with different themes showing items and photographs, mostly loaned by local people. A database of Burton Latimer names runs into several thousands and is available in the research room. Open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 10am-1pm, the experienced volunteers are always on hand to give extra information and teach about their hometown.
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Corby Heritage Centre:
Corby Heritage Centre is a museum and cultural centre focused on preserving and celebrating the industrial and social heritage of the town and surrounding areas. Housed in a former school building, it features exhibits on the town’s history, including displays on the steel industry and the history of the town’s communities, including the Scottish migrants who came to work in the steelworks. The museum also has a collection of photographs, documents, and other artefacts related to Corby’s history. In addition to its exhibits, the centre hosts a range of events and activities throughout the year, including talks, workshops, and family-friendly activities, as well as temporary exhibitions on a variety of topics related to the town’s history.
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Daventry Museum:
Daventry Museum is a small museum showcasing the history of the town and its surrounding areas through a range of exhibits and displays. The museum has a collection of over 2,000 artefacts such as medieval coins and pottery, as well as items related to local industries, such as shoemaking and leatherworking. There are also exhibits on the town’s role in World War II, including the Daventry Calling radio station. In addition to permanent displays, there are also a range of temporary exhibitions throughout the year, covering topics such as local artists, sport, and culture. The museum also runs a programme of events and activities for visitors of all ages, including talks, workshops, and family-friendly activities.
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Desborough Heritage Centre:
Desborough Heritage Centre is a museum focused on preserving the history of Desborough and the surrounding area, from prehistoric times to present day. The centre is housed in the town's former library and features exhibits on local industries, such as shoe making and agriculture, as well as displays on the town’s notable residents, including the composer Edward German and the athlete Harold Whitlock.
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Earls Barton Museum:
For many years, the family at Jeyes have been proud to give a home to the Earls Barton Museum of Village Life – welcoming so many visitors, some researching family trees, historians, children and families on holiday from all over the world. The museum depicts the lifestyle and industry of a traditional shoe worker. You can find out how shoe workers lived, how they worked and how they shopped. It is a fascinating look at life ‘in the good old days’. The museum is run by a team of village volunteers who open the museum Monday to Saturday from 9am-5pm.
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Harrington Aviation Museum:
The Harrington Aviation Museum is a museum dedicated to preserving the history of RAF Harrington, a former Royal Air Force station that played a crucial role in World War II. The museum’s collection includes a range of exhibits and artefacts related to the history of the airfield, including aircraft engines, equipment, and uniforms. One of the museum’s main attractions is the Avro Lancaster bomber, which is undergoing restoration and is one of only two remaining Lancasters in the UK that can be viewed up close. In addition to the exhibits, the museum offers visitors the opportunity to take a guided tour of the airfield and learn about the role that RAF Harrington played during the war. The museum also hosts a range of events throughout the year, including air shows and vintage vehicle rallies.
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Irchester Narrow Gauge Museum:
The Irchester Narrow Gauge Railway Museum is a small museum committed to preserving the history of the narrow-gauge railway that operated in the nearby ironstone quarries between the late 19th century and the mid-20th century. The museum’s collection includes a range of items related to the narrow-gauge railway, including locomotives, wagons, and other equipment used in the quarrying industry. A replica of the quarryman’s cabin provides visitors with a glimpse into the daily life of the workers who operated the railway. In addition to the exhibits, the museum offers rides on a narrow-gauge railway line that runs through the nearby woods.
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Kings Cliffe Heritage Centre:
King’s Cliffe Heritage Centre is run by volunteers from the local community and showcases the history of the village and the surrounding area. The museum’s exhibits cover a wide range of themes, including local industries such as agriculture and quarrying, the village’s architectural heritage, and the impact of World War I and II on the local community. There is also a collection of artefacts and photographs relating to the village’s famous resident, Sir John Soane, a celebrated architect who designed buildings such as the Bank of England.
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Northampton Museum & Art Gallery:
Northampton Museum and Art Gallery hosts a vast collection of exhibits and artifacts spanning many centuries and covering a wide range of themes, including local history, natural history, art, and culture. Some of the museum’s most notable exhibits include the Northamptonshire Boot and Shoe Collection, which features over 12,000 shoes and shoe-related items, and the town’s history through the years, from neolithic to modern day. The museum also has a collection of fine art, including works by famous artists such as J.M.W. Turner and Thomas Gainsborough, with regular art exhibitions throughout the year.
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Oundle Museum:
Oundle Museum is a small local history museum housed in a former Victorian fire station and contains a range of exhibits and artifacts that tell the story of the town and its people. The museum’s exhibits cover a variety of themes, including local industries such as shoemaking and wool production and the town’s rich architectural heritage. There is also a collection of Roman artefacts that were found in the area, including coins, pottery, and jewellery.
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Piddington Roman Villa Museum:
Piddington Roman Villa Museum showcases the remains of a large Roman villa. Excavation by the Upper Nene Archaeological Society since 1979 provides evidence that the area close to Piddington has been occupied for around 10,000 years. Discover this award-winning museum, displaying results of the ongoing excavation of a Roman Villa. Excavation, post-excavation and research opportunities are also available throughout the year!
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Rothwell Arts and Heritage Centre:
Rothwell Heritage Centre provides an insight into the local history and heritage of the town, featuring exhibits and displays that showcase the rich history of Rothwell, including its medieval past and the important role it played in the shoe and lace-making industry. It also features artefacts and displays related to the town’s famous bone crypt, also known as an ossuary, which is a unique feature of the local church. In addition to its exhibits, the Rothwell Heritage Centre also serves as a visitor information centre, providing information about local attractions and events. It is run by a team of dedicated volunteers and is open on select days throughout the year.
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Rushden Museum:
Rushden Museum is situated in Hall Park at the rear of the historic Rushden Hall, on the site of the old stable block next to the walled garden. With a different exhibition each year, the museum aims to portray all aspects of the social history of the town by collecting and displaying pictures, maps, photographs and objects. The museum also has displays about local sports teams, schools, and notable individuals who have lived in the area. Rushden Museum is run by a team of volunteers and is open to the public free of charge.
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Rushden Transport Museum and Railway:
The Rushden Transport Museum is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the transportation history of the local area. The museum has a collection of vintage vehicles, including cars, buses, motorcycles, and bicycles, as well as various transport-related exhibits and artefacts. The museum is housed in a former railway station, which adds to its charm and historical significance. Visitors can explore the various exhibits and learn about the development of transportation in the region, including the impact of the railways on the area’s economy. In addition to its static displays, the museum hosts a number of events throughout the year, including classic car shows, transport rallies, and vintage vehicle rides.
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SCCYC Sikh Museum:
SCCYC Sikh Museum is a museum located in Northampton showcasing the history and culture of the Sikh community. The aim is to promote understanding and appreciation of Sikh culture and heritage, both within the local community and beyond. The exhibits in the museum cover a wide range of topics related to Sikhi(sm), including the religion’s origins, history, culture, and traditions. Visitors can see Sikh artefacts such as traditional clothing and musical instruments, as well as displays on the life and teachings of Sikh Gurus.
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Silverstone Museum:
Silverstone Museum, located trackside in a former WW2 hangar, takes visitors on a journey of the circuit’s history from an RAF airfield to a world-leading F1 race track. It boasts numerous exhibits where visitors can try out a variety of activities - operating a wind tunnel, piloting a Wellington bomber, and climbing into a replica Grand Prix car. Visitors can even see whether they've got what it takes to commentate on a F1 Grand Prix! In addition to the hands-on fun, the museum features iconic cars and bikes that have played a part in the 75-year history of the circuit, including Mansell’s “Red 5”, an E.R.A from the first ever Grand Prix held at the venue in 1948 and Barry Sheene’s 1979 Suzuki motorbike.
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Sywell Aviation Museum:
Sywell Aviation Museum aims to preserve the history of Sywell Aerodrome and Northamptonshire’s rich aviation heritage from the early days to the Second World War and beyond. It began life in 1998 and the museum building was opened in 2001 by the legendary aviator Alex Henshaw. The museum’s first complete airframe, a Hawker Hunter, was acquired in 2012, and work is ongoing to restore this exhibit. The museum consists of three Nissen huts. The buildings themselves are artefacts, having been used as bomb fusing sheds by the USAAF during WW2.
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The Canal Museum:
The Canal Museum in Stoke Bruerne, the first of its kind in the UK, is set in a historic Grade II listed corn mill on the Grand Union Canal.
Spread across three floors, the museum offers interactive displays and collections that bring to life the history of Britain’s canals and the people who lived and worked on them. Experience the sights and sounds of canal life, dress in traditional boaters’ costumes, try painting unique canal folk art, and enjoy hands-on exhibits for all ages. Outside the museum, visit the restored 1935 narrowboat Sculptor. Explore the towpath near the Blisworth Tunnel and the Woodland Walk, home to unique wire sculptures and local wildlife.
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Towcester Museum:
Towcester Museum is a local museum located in a 17th-century timber-framed building that was originally a coaching inn. The museum’s collection covers the history of Towcester and the surrounding area, with displays on local industries, agriculture, and social history. The museum also has exhibits on the town’s Roman and Anglo-Saxon past, including a reconstructed Roman villa. Visitors can see artifacts such as agricultural tools, local pottery, and Victorian clothing, and there are interactive displays for children.
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Wellingborough Museum:
The Wellingborough Museum is housed in Dulley’s Baths, built in 1892 as an indoor swimming pool. The downstairs gallery exhibits explore early history, whilst the upstairs displays wax models on how the town may have looked in the early 20th century. Find information on the Iron Age and other eras including Roman Britain and the Middle Ages, through to Victorian times and WWI. Wellingborough Museum is fun and interactive - look out for the 1920s pianola, and see if you can play a tune!
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Wollaston Museum:
The Wollaston Museum building has had quite an eventful history and was initially used as a base for a variety of activities. In 1976, the burnt out shell was bought by the Wollaston Society (now Wollaston Heritage Society) for conversion into a museum and was opened in November 1979 by Mr Ray Griggs. In 1979, the Society purchased a neighbouring cottage and this has been developed into what is now Curiosity Cottage, furnished in the style of the period between WWI and WWII. Also on site is Beacon Hill, a 12th Century Norman Motte and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. The area around the hill has been developed into attractive gardens where many of their events are staged.
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