Sending Christmas Cheer


Writing and sending Christmas cards has been a festive
tradition for many years. Explore some historic Christmas
cards from the Museum's collection in this display.
Visit the display

Excavating Oatlands


From pipkin pots to clay tobacco pipes,
this exhibition celebrates amateur archaeology
and shines a light on what life was like at
Oatlands Palace during the Tudor period.

Explore the online exhibition

Celebrating a Century


To celebrate the important role that Elmbridge
Museum continues to play in the preservation
of the borough’s past, this year we’re looking
back and showcasing a selection of objects that turned 100.
Visit the exhibition

Welcome to Elmbridge Museum

Watch our introductory video to find out about the history of Elmbridge Museum and the fascinating collection of objects we look after including art, archaeology, costume and social history which tell the story of the borough from the Stone Age to the present day.

Discover the museum’s varied exhibitions and learning programme and how to get in touch with our volunteer team to support with your local history research.

This video also includes a guide to the museum website and how you can create a user account to benefit from our digital resources including uploading community events onto the What’s On page and curating your own list of museum objects.

Latest news

New blog posts

Elmbridge Museum is marking this Remembrance Day by shining a light on two Weybridge’s war hospitals: Caen Hill and Brooklands. View candid photographs from the hospitals, capturing moments of comradery and recovery amongst servicemen and volunteer nurses.

Weybridge’s Auxiliary Military War Hospitals

What's On

Sending Christmas Cheer Writing and sending Christmas cards has been a festive tradition for many years. For some, it’s a chance to look back on their year and reconnect with others. For others, it’s simply a way to share Christmas cheer. Explore some historic Christmas cards from the Museum collection in this display.

go to Sending Christmas Cheer
Celebrating a Century Elmbridge Museum cares for an array of fascinating objects. To celebrate the important role that the Museum continues to play in the preservation of the borough’s past, we’re looking back and showcasing a selection of objects that turned 100 this year.

go to Celebrating a Century
Excavating Oatlands From pipkin pots to clay tobacco pipes, this exhibition highlights the vital role of amateur archaeology in preserving local heritage and offers a rare glimpse into life at Oatlands Palace during the Tudor era.

go to Excavating Oatlands
Elmbridge's Early Settlers An exploration of what life was like in prehistoric Elmbridge, imaginatively brought to life by the artwork of students at St James C. of E. Primary School in Weybridge.

go to Elmbridge's Early Settlers
Write On! From the letter-writing boom of the Victorian era to ambitious attempts to use computers to speed up our writing in the 1980s, this display draws a line from handwriting to computers and back again.

go to Write On!
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Surrey Wheels of Time

Elmbridge Museum is proud to be a member of the Surrey Wheels of Time programme which aims to encourage young people to visit museums and heritage venues across the county.

Enjoy finding out more about the history of Elmbridge through our five display cases located across the borough in the Elmbridge Civic Centre, local libraries and the Xcel Leisure Centre.

Make sure to visit our Cobham library display and keep a special eye open for signs of our time traveller Roamin’ Rex. You can collect your Wheels of Time badge here – remember to bring your purple lanyard to show the staff.

Visit the Surrey Wheels of Time website

Plan your time

See what is happening in and around Elmbridge on our interactive map

See more

Objects in Focus

Picnic Basket Explore the contents of this charming picnic basket, well-used by Walton resident Gladys Ward throughout the 20th century.

go to Picnic Basket
First World War Silk Postcard First World War silk postcards conveyed messages between soldiers and families. Handcrafted by women embroiderers near the front lines, they are beautiful examples of sentimentality and wartime industry.

go to First World War Silk Postcard
Elmbridge at the Seaside Learn about seaside holidays of the past in Elmbridge through this Victorian card with a twist!

go to Elmbridge at the Seaside
Weybridge Heath September marks the start of change as summer gives way to autumn. How did Weybridge Health look in 1864, before development and ecological change?

go to Weybridge Heath
Ethel Harting's watercolours Discover the vibrant botanical watercolours created by Ethel Harting, inspired by local flora and fauna.

go to Ethel Harting's watercolours
Tudor Ointment Jar Discover Ogilvy's Apothecary and find out how this small jar contained an essential to Tudor sickness and health.

go to Tudor Ointment Jar
Oval Gold Locket What hidden tragedy lies inside this charming gold locket, owned by one of the best-know families in Elmbridge? Click here to discover its story.

go to Oval Gold Locket
Silk Brocade Pompadour Shoes How might a Georgian lady's uncomfortable footwear have made her 'desirable'?

go to Silk Brocade Pompadour Shoes

Discover more objects

Explore the collection of over 43,000 objects at your fingertips

Search the collection
 

The Diggers Project

Discover our ongoing work to investigate the historical story and international significance of the 17th century Surrey Diggers, a radical group during the English Civil War.

  • Follow our redeveloped Surrey Diggers Trail across the local area
  • Watch our five new Diggers Trail videos
  • Discover the suite of Diggers learning resources
  • Learn more by reading the blog series by our Academic in Residence

 

The Surrey Diggers Trail
Toys

Schools membership

Bring history to life in the classroom with our schools membership programme. We offer a wide range of resources designed to inspire your class to explore their local heritage. Discover our immersive outreach sessions, book a discovery box containing real museum objects, and take advantage of our free assembly service to find out what Elmbridge Museum could offer you today.

Find out more about our learning programme
 

Explore your local history

Go right back to the beginnings of the borough with our Brief History of Elmbridge timeline. Here you can discover about early settlers and the development of the local area to to the place we know and love today.

For those who want to delve deeper, check out our Local Studies research service.

Learn more