North Hampshire

Museums & Galleries

Art Galleries & Museums

ANDOVER MUSEUM & IRON AGE MUSEUM

6 Church Close, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 1DP
Tel: 01264 366283
E-mail: musmpm@hants.gov.uk
Web site: www.hants.gov.uk
Open: Tuesday to Saturday, 10am - 5pm, except Christmas & New Year.

The Iron Age Museum tells the story of Danebury Ring, an Iron Age hillfort. The museum has life-sized models and reconstructions, as well as finds from the excavations, creating a picture of how people farmed, fought, worshipped and died, more than 2000 years ago. After completing work at the hillfort, Barry Cunliffe set about investigating Iron Age and Roman sites in the vicinity. Finds from some of these, together with the first La Tene mirror from Hampshire, are also displayed in the museum.

The Story of Andover, A wealth of fascinating archaeology from Stone Age to post medieval, Find out about Victorian Andover, The Weyhill Sheep Fair and the infamous workhouse scandal of 1846, and take a look at transport, schools, and local businesses, such as Taskers of Anna Valley. Geology and Natural History, From the bones of a woolly mammoth through to the arrival of the first humans in the area during the Stone Age. Dioramas of local birds, reptiles, animals and insects. Gallery hosting local and touring exhibitions throughout the year, please contact for details.

GILBERT WHITE'S HOUSE & THE OATES MUSEUM

The Wakes, High Street, Selborne, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 3JH
Tel: 01420 511275     Fax: 01420 511040
E-mail: info@gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk
Web: www.gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk

Open 11am - 5pm, Tuesday - Sunday.   Closed Mondays & 25th December to 31st December. 1st April - end Sept 7 days.

Charming 18th century country house, home of famous naturalist Rev. Gilbert White, author of 'The Natural History of Selborne'. Beautiful garden, recreated to 18th century form.

Also fascinating museum devoted to 'Titus' Oates of Antarctic fame and Frank Oates, Victorian explorer. Excellent shop. Plant sales. Tea parlour with some 18th century fare. Events and temporary exhibitions held throughout the year please see our website for further details.

WHITCHURCH SILK MILL

28 Winchester Street, Whitchurch, Hampshire, RG28 7AL
Tel: 01256 892065     Fax: 01256 893882
E-mail: silkmill@btinternet.com
Web: www.whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk

Open: Tuesday to Sunday, 10.30am - 5pm. All year except Christmas & New Year. Last admission 4.15pm.
		WHITCHURCH SILK MILL was built on the River Test in Hampshire two hundred years ago, during the reign of King George III. Silk has been woven here since the 1820s.

Now a working museum open to the public, the mill produces high quality silks to order for theatrical costume, interior designers and historic houses. Visitors are welcome to try their hand at hand-weaving and explore the textiles. Schools and groups welcome at all times by prior arrangement. Hands-on School holiday activities available for Children and adult workshops held throughout the year. Tea room offers sandwiches, cakes and other refreshments, picnics are welcome and our shop sells unique gifts. For further details about Whitchurch Silk Mill in Whitchurch, Hampshire see our website.

WESTGATE MUSEUM

High Street, Winchester, Hampshire
Tel: 01962 869864
E-mail: museums@winchester.gov.uk
See our website

The Westgate is one of the two surviving defensible gateways out of the original five that stood in the City Wall of Winchester. These defences were first laid out around the Roman town Venta Belgarum in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD and the line of the City Wall remained substantially unaltered throughout the Middle Ages.   From the 16th century the gate was used as a City prison in which debtors and other offenders were confined.

  
Much later it was leased to a wine merchant and was used as a club room for a pub which adjoined the gate. From the days of its use as a prison one can see names and other devices cut into the walls by the prisoners, including a carving of a 17th century ship.

On display in the museum are the weights and measures for the city, and there is a fine painted Tudor ceiling from Winchester College. The roof of the museum can be visited and offers a fine view down the High Street. In summer one can try one's hand at brass rubbing. Access is up steep stone stairs. Hands on activities, childrens quizzes and authentic period costume, for children to try on including armour.

For further details on Westgate Museum in Winchester, Hampshire see our website.

WINCHESTER CITY MUSEUM

The Square, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9ES
Tel: 01962 863064
E-mail: museums@winchester.gov.uk
See our website

Situated in the centre of Winchester between the High Street and the Cathedral, the Museum tells the story of the city through display of its extensive archaeological and local history collections.   These vividly illustrate Winchester's pre-historic origins, its emergence as the fifth largest town of Roman Britain, and its development under Alfred the Great as capital of Wessex and of the Anglo-Norman kingdom.

 
Its decline in the later Middle Ages began with the creation of a new centre of government at Westminster in London, and was hastened by the Black Death in the 14th century and the Dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII.
A revival of fortunes began with renewed royal interest in the 17th century when Charles II built a palace in the city, enhancing Winchester's reputation as a fashionable market town.

The origins of the city's role as a local shopping centre and tourist destination in the 19th century are well demonstrated by displays and reconstructions of Victorian and Edwardian shops on the ground floor of the Museum. Disabled access. Hands on activities, childrens quizzes and authentic period costume, for children to try on including Roman, Saxon and Edwardian costumes.

For further details on Winchester City Museum in Winchester, Hampshire see our website.

MILESTONES LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM

Leisure Park, Churchill Way West, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 6YR
Tel: 01256 477766
E-mail: milestones.museum@hants.gov.uk
Web: www.milestones-museum.com

Imagine an open-air museum inside a massive modern building..... with a network of streets and buildings based on those found in Hampshire from the Victorian period and from the 1930s. Then you have an impression of the size and scale of Milestones - Hampshire's Living History Museum.

The 19th and 20th century streets are the perfect backdrop for the County's famous collections. Wander through the network of period streets with shops, houses and even a traditional pub serving ale! A gramophone and radio dealers, a gas showroom, photographers and a toy shop..... these are just some of the period shop fronts used to display the mass produced objects that had such a huge impact on people's lives during the late 19th century and the first part of the 20th century. For further details on Milestones Living History Museum near Basingstoke, Hampshire see our website.
 

ALDERSHOT MILITARY MUSEUM

Evelyn Woods Road, Aldershot, Hampshire, GU11 2LG
Tel: 01252 314598
Web site: www.hants.gov.uk
Open: all year, daily 10am - 5pm. Closed Christmas and New Year

Welcome to Aldershot Military Museum & Rushmoor Local History Gallery housed in the only surviving brick-built barrack blocks left in Aldershot. Built in 1894, these bungalow-type buildings once covered the whole of North Camp.

 
Today they tell the story of daily life for both soldier and civilian since 1854, as Aldershot and Farnborough grew up around the military camp.

Why was Aldershot selected to become the home of the British Army? What was life like for the soldiers and their families? Who were the soldiers and units passing through the camp? How did they interact with the local community? From the horse to a 60 ton Chieftain Tank - a brief look. What was it like to live in Aldershot, Farnborough & Cove before the arrival of the Army? What was the impact of the Army on these small rural communities?

JANE AUSTEN'S HOUSE & MUSEUM

Winchester Road, Chawton, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 1SD
Tel: 01420 83262
E-mail: enquiries@jahmusm.org.uk
Web: www.jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk

Jane Austen's House is a pleasant seventeenth century house in the pretty village of Chawton in Hampshire not far from her birthplace of Steventon. The museum houses an attractive collection of items connected with Jane and her family including the table that she used to write her novels.

 
There is some of her jewellery, and examples of her needlework skill. In the drawing room is a fine Hepplewhite bureau-bookcase and chairs that belonged to Jane's father and came from the rectory at Steventon. The bookcase contains some of Jane's novels.

The pretty garden contains many varieties of plants and herbs common in the late 18th century and is still a peaceful spot. In the Old Bakehouse you will be able to see Jane's donkey carriage that she used when she was shopping. It has recently been refurbished and is used on special occasions.

There is a wide selection of tasteful souvenirs available in the museum as well as a good collection of new and second-hand books, DVDs, CDs and cassettes of readings and music connected with Jane. The DVDs include those of the series that have been shown on television. Mail order is possible.

For further details on Jane Austen's House & Museum near Alton, Hampshire see our website.

Working watermill.

Spanning the River Itchen, this water-powered corn mill has had a chequered past.

First built in medieval times, and restored in 1743, it remained in use until the turn of the last century and has recently been restored to full working order.

The machinery turns daily throughout the season, and there is something to interest everyone, including exhibition, working models, impressive mill-races and pretty island garden.

Winchester City Mill -
Photo: Gillian Moy CCL