Brief History of the Museum

Royston is a small market town which grew up at the point where two ancient roads cross—the Icknield Way and Ermine Street.  Its history is reflected in the Royston Tapestry at the Museum, a project initiated in 1992 by previous curator Jane Vincent and depicting scenes from the town’s past.

A museum was first established in Royston in 1856, when it was housed in the Institute Building, but in 1901 a decision was taken to close it and the collection was unfortunately sent for auction and dispersed. Many of the finest items were bought by collectors, though some were later returned for the current collection through the generosity of individual purchasers.
 

Left:  The Museum's first professional Curator, John Roles, takes possession of the new premises
Right:  The Museum as it is today, after its recent refurbishment

In 1984, after discussions between the Town Council, the Local History Society and the Trustees of the Royston and District Local History Society Trust, the Museum was opened in the present building - the old Congregational Church Schoolroom.

This building had been empty for some time but during WW2 it had been used as a social club for the members of the American Air Force 91st Bomb Group which was based at Bassingbourn. The Americans installed shower facilities and a kitchen which were later removed at the request of the authorities when the war was over.

At the time of the re-opening five trustees were nominated by the Local History Society  to oversee the collection, and they serve with elected Councillors on the Royston Town Council’s Museum Sub-Committee.
 

A view of the interior of the American Servicemen's Club

The logo of the 91st bomb group

Outside the American Servicemen's Club

The Museum as it is now, from a painting by Freda Wright

Guided by successive curators, and with the enthusiastic support of the Local History Society and Friends’ organisations, the collection has continued to expand in order to reflect the rapid progress of the twentieth century.  In addition to the current display there is an extensive photographic, newspaper, and document archive (made available for research purposes by appointment), costumes/textiles, archaeology and an art collection which includes major holdings of paintings and etchings by E Herbert Whydale.

The Museum is also fortunate in being able to display a magnificent collection of ceramics and glass from the later part of the nineteenth century through to the present day. This is the property of a private collector, who has generously made it available on long-term loan.  It includes Laurence McGowan's magnificent Royston Charger, commissioned to commemorate the beginning of a new millennium.