Donate an Object
At Egham Museum we welcome donations to the collection.
The Museum has limited space and resource and as such, we are currently in the middle of a collections review (read more about this here) to ensure we better care for the collections we currently hold. This means that the items coming into the Museum will also need to be assessed against a criteria to ensure they too help tell the stories of Egham and the surrounding area and complement existing collections.
What themes do we cover?
- Agriculture, Farming and Crafts
- Buildings, Estates and Places
- Clothing and Accessories
- Clubs and Societies
- Education
- Emergency Services
- Events, Entertainment and Leisure
- Health and Welfare
- Individuals
- Magna Carta
- National and Local Government
- Religion
- Royal Family
- Tourism, Commerce and Trade
- Transport
- War
What items can we accept?
We can accept any type of item: 3D objects, 2D archives, books and photographs, moving images, clothing/materials. Examples of these might include a postcard printed locally, a ration book issued to a local resident, a 35mm film of an event in the area, deeds to a house in the local postcode, or a bottle with the name of a local dairy written on it.
Where is our physical collecting area?
We are only able to accept items that fall within our physical collecting area within the old Egham Urban District Council boarders. This is Egham, Egham Hythe, Englefield Green, Thorpe or Virginia Water – take a look at the map below that sets out our physical collecting area.
What are the next steps if you have an item to donate?
In the first instance, please contact the Museum using the form below providing information about the item/s you’d like to donate, uploading photographs if you have them. The Curator will get in touch to discuss further as we may need to check the condition, review provenance and carry out further research before maiking a final decision.
What if the Egham Museum is unable to accept your item?
In these cases, the Museum will advise the potential donor of other museums or heritage organisations that may be more appropriate homes for items. For example, our neighbouring museums at Chertsey, Staines and Windsor.
PLEASE NOTE:
Please do not leave an item/s at the Museum without speaking to the Curator first. This is because we first need to ensure it fits within our collecting policy (as outlined above), that we have space and resources to care for your item, and to complete the necessary transfer of ownership and copyright forms.
Unfortunately, due to limited resources, if an item is left at the Museum without speaking to the Curator, or without leaving your contact details, we will treat it as lost property and dispose of it as we see fit.