Royston & District Museum & Art Gallery
Opening Hours
All year: Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 am - 4.45 pm. (Closed over Christmas and New Year)
Other times by arrangement with the Curator.
Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays
Easter to end of September 2010
Warders Wanted
Sundays & Bank Holiday Mondays (Renumeration given)
Please contact curator for further details
Admission is Free Web-site www.roystonmuseum.org.uk
Information for Disabled Visitors - Access for disabled people
We regret that we are unable to provide access to the upper galleries, but there is a ramp on the ground floor, where the display has been designed with wheelchair users in mind, and there is a bell outside the museum which may be used to summon assistance from the staff.
Slide presentations of exhibitions and the Tapestry are available for viewing, and our display texts have been printed according to advice from the visually impaired.
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, such as the tapestry hangings from King James's Palace were bought by collectors, though some have been returned through the generosity of individual purchasers. In 1965 the Royston and District Local History Society was formed with the main aim of providing a Museum for the town. Members collected and housed items of local historical interest throughout the area and in 1976 a small room at the back of the Town Hall opened as a museum, manned by volunteers from the History Society. In 1979 the Museum moved to a larger room at the Town Hall with a storeroom attached. 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. 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.
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 collection (made available for research purposes by appointment), costumes/textiles, 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.
The Royston Tapestry
The front gallery houses the Royston Tapestry, a project which, when finished, will rival the Bayeux Tapestry in its skill and originality. The project was launched through the enthusiasm and tenacity of a former curator, Jane Vincent, whose aim was to depict scenes of interest from Royston's past with a more imaginative and eye-catching display.
After much deliberation and consultation, a fund for the Tapestry was launched in 1991, with donations from members of the public and some local organisations. The designs have been the work of two artists: Danni Kaye who drew the first five scenes, and Martin Kaszak, who has produced the remaining drawings up to and including the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The embroiderers are members of the staff and public.
The Tapestry is really an embroidery in the manner of the Bayeux Tapestry; worked in crewel wool on a continuous length of linen, it will be 110 feet long when completed, and will be on permanent display in the Museum.
Royston Time Trackers
is a new group for young people between 8 and 16 years of age who want to explore the objects, buildings and history of the local area. Its introductory meeting was held at Royston and
Minutes of Museum Sub-Advisory Committee meetings
Jan 09 July.2008 April 2008 January 2008 November 2007 July 2007
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