Blog

Written by the Museum team, the Blog brings you stories from Horsham District’s past, in-depth studies of curious objects, video tours behind-the-scenes in our galleries, and much more.

Use the search box and drop-down list to search for particular topics, or view all posts in date order.

Is there something you’d love us to write about? Email your ideas to museum@horsham.gov.uk

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Celebrating Horsham: Collyer's Pop-Up Shop

A class of young creatives at Collyer's Sixth Form College have produced merchandise for a Pop-Up Shop at Horsham Museum. The shop's month-long appearance opens on Saturday 4 May and is highlighted within the events programme for Horsham District Council's A-May-Zing Weekend.

Published: 18 Apr 2024

Women's Voices of Horsham

Like so many museums across the country, there are many more records and artefacts related to the men of Horsham’s history than the women who lived here. Today, on International Women’s Day we highlight the story of two great women with links to the town.

Published: 08 Mar 2024

Gilt brooch made from a coin

New Artefacts on Display

Three new medieval objects have gone on display at Horsham Museum this week. Although they may be small in size, they are beautiful examples of jewellery worn by people hundreds of years ago. Each object has been found in Horsham district and we have been able to acquire them through the Portable Antiquities Scheme and the support of the Friends of Horsham Museum. Read this blog post to find out more about these fascinating artefacts.

Published: 06 Feb 2024

Curators looking at an artefact

2023 Recap

It is the perfect time to reflect on what has been a fantastic year here. The museum team would like to take the opportunity to thank everybody who has supported us throughout the year, from stopping in to see the exhibits to joining us for one of our late openings, it has been a pleasure to welcome everybody to the museum.

Published: 20 Dec 2023

Children's gallery

A-Z of History

Our children's gallery, The A-Z of History, opened on 16 December 2023 and offers visitors of all ages a nostalgic look at toys and games of the past. As well as the childhood artefacts on display there are also key facts and information about Horsham district's history for younger audiences to enjoy.

Published: 20 Dec 2023

Coronation Weekend at Horsham Museum & Art Gallery

The Coronation Weekend saw a hive of activity in central Horsham and there was no exception at the museum that saw welcomed hundreds of visitors.

Published: 22 May 2023

Frederick DuCane Godman: The Legacy of a Collector

This year the summer exhibition at Horsham Museum will be a focus on Frederick DuCane Godman, a local explorer, collector and natural scientist. The exhibition will feature objects on loan from the British Museum, Royal society and British Ornithologists union, as well as several private lenders.

Published: 21 Apr 2023

Colourful artwork of Piries Place

The Art Gallery at Horsham Museum

From Good Friday Horsham Museum will present a gallery which showcases the work of artists from the South East of England. The selection of work on display is varied featuring calming landscape views and dramatic coastlines as well as abstract works and even highly detailed astronomical prints of far away galaxies and nebulas.

Published: 22 Mar 2023

Stained glass window with image of Percy Bysshe Shelley

Percy Bysshe Shelley Gallery

This April we unveil a new gallery which focuses on the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Born in Warnham, a village on the edge of Horsham, he is considered one of the major English romantic poets. Born into a prominent Horsham family in 1792, he would have inherited the title of Baronet, and a portfolio of property across Sussex, had he outlived his father. This new gallery will give visitors an overview of his life and work. From his early childhood in Horsham, to his tragic death at age 29 in Italy, the display will give insight into the events, people and places which inspired his poetry.

Published: 22 Mar 2023

Our Curator's Top Five Objects

Horsham Museum Curator, Nikki Caxton discusses her top 5 objects in the collection. Joining the museum in August 2021, her favourite objects constantly shift as she discovers new artefacts in the collection.

Published: 14 Mar 2023