Elmbridge Museum: a gateway to local heritage

How well do you know your local museum services?

Did you know? There has been a museum service in Elmbridge since the opening of the Weybridge Museum in 1909. In the 1970s, Weybridge Museum became Elmbridge Museum, and broadened its reach to embrace the history of the entire borough. 

Today, it embraces the community with an outreach service that brings history right to your doorstep.

Find out about the museum’s outreach offer by watching their video:

Understanding Elmbridge Museum’s vision 

The vision of the museum is clear: to make heritage accessible to everyone. This mission is driven by an extensive outreach programme, which explores their extensive collection of 40,000 historic artefacts from the Stone Age to the present day.

What are the key elements of Elmbridge Museum’s outreach programme?

Temporary exhibitions across Elmbridge

Instead of operating out of a single building, the museum takes its displays on the road, running temporary exhibitions at 5 different permanent sites across the borough. These exhibitions change every 6 months and cover various themes, some closely tied to the history of local areas. 

The current exhibitions are as follows:

• Civic Centre, Esher: Forging art: Thames Ditton Bronze foundry 
• Cobham Library: Fashion, frills & finery: exploring historic accessories. 
• Dittons Library, Thames Ditton: The Milk Marketing Board.
• Walton Library: Let’s talk about food: historic local bakeries, groceries and domestic food culture.
• Xcel leisure complex, Walton: Write on! history of writing.

 They are free to visit. Check the programme online.

A strong digital presence: online exhibitions and a wealth of historic resources at your fingertips

Elmbridge Museum maximises its reach within the community with an engaging website: where visitors can find: 

• a directory of current and past online exhibitions exploring the impact of major historical events in Elmbridge
• interactive content to complement temporary displays in the community, including a wider selection of artefacts, expert interviews and audio trails.
• fun learning resources tailored for schools, families, and community groups.
• a search function for exploring the museum collections
• a "What's On" page for current events and to register online for a more personalised customer journey

Face to face learning opportunities for all: 

Elmbridge Museum runs a variety of outreach activities led by the team and volunteers:

Regular workshops, talks and walks

Interactive sessions, designed to educate and engage diverse age groups, are held at local schools and centres for the community. Activities can be tailored to suit a range of audience needs. Contact the museum to find out more and arrange a visit. Volunteers run regular informal historical walks which are free to attend. 

Fun engaging discovery boxes

The discovery boxes are often used in workshops and learning sessions. They are filled with real historic items, and available for hire by schools and community groups, for fun hands-on learning experiences.

Half term family fun activities

Families can look forward to exciting educational Museum Explorers events during half-term breaks and summer holidays, making history fun and accessible for all ages. Check out the free events for this coming October half term holiday and book via the What’s On page.

Local studies service

If you are keen to delve into local history or carry out research, the museum’s local studies service offers access to an extensive archive collection managed by knowledgeable volunteers and which can be viewed by appointment. 

Cllr Simon Waugh, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Commercial Enterprise, said: “By combining physical outreach with a strong online presence, Elmbridge Museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing local heritage with current and future generations. This proactive approach not only enriches our understanding of local history but also leads to an increased interest in the borough’s past. So, why not engage with Elmbridge Museum? They look forward to welcoming you to a museum exhibition or an event soon.”

For further information, please visit the Elmbridge Museum website or get in touch with the team.