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Find out more about our collections, the stories it tells and the people who lived locally over the years.

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Read more about the collection and its stories in our blog

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  Just Williams Part 9 – some of the Victorian tradesmen who shaped Egham High Street and Englefield Green
  This short series of articles by Margaret Stewart has been looking at some of the businesses which began trading in Egham during the Victorian era and continued for over 50 years. There were similar businesses away from the centre of Egham itself and… Read more: Just Williams Part 9 – some of the Victorian tradesmen who shaped Egham High Street and Englefield Green
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  A letter of introduction …
  Hello, I’m Emily. You may know me as a member of the Women’s Social and Political Union, and a militant suffragette that fought for votes for women in Britain at the beginning of the twentieth century. But I bet you didn’t know that… Read more: A letter of introduction …
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  Ashby’s Staines Brewery
  Thomas Ashby officially founded the Ashby Family brewery in 1796. He started brewing beer in his own house and delivering casks to his customers using a wheelbarrow. With the successful business expanding, operations were moved to some family land and his sons Thomas… Read more: Ashby’s Staines Brewery
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  Just Williams Part 8 – some of the Victorian tradesmen who shaped Egham High Street and Englefield Green
  This short series of articles by Margaret Stewart has been looking at some of the businesses which began trading in Egham during the Victorian era and continued for over 50 years. There were similar businesses away from the centre of Egham itself and… Read more: Just Williams Part 8 – some of the Victorian tradesmen who shaped Egham High Street and Englefield Green
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  Institutions of Imperialism: The Royal Indian Engineering College Part 2
  The identity of a Cooper’s Hill man was an ideal to live up to. The Cooper’s Hill man was ‘a man of the Empire’, a representative of the Crown, English civility, and order. On July 25th, 1879, in a speech on the 8th… Read more: Institutions of Imperialism: The Royal Indian Engineering College Part 2
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  Institutions of Imperialism: The Royal Indian Engineering College Part 1
  The Royal Indian Engineering College (RIEC or Cooper’s Hill) was founded in Egham in 1871 on the insistence of Sir George Tomykns Chesney to train students for employment as engineering officers in the Indian Public Works Department (IPWD). Chesney was a former employee at… Read more: Institutions of Imperialism: The Royal Indian Engineering College Part 1
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  Cadbury’s Chocolate Box Celebrating 1935 Silver Jubilee (George V)
  This object, a small tin Cadbury’s decorative chocolate box, was part of a wider collection gifted to children attending Egham Parish School on Station Lane in 1935. This was in celebration of the Silver Jubilee of George V and Mary, happening to be… Read more: Cadbury’s Chocolate Box Celebrating 1935 Silver Jubilee (George V)
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  Dirk and scabbard blog
  This blog is about a dirk and scabbard that was donated to Egham Museum in 1982 by Miss Trowbridge. There is not very much information on dirks and scabbards and what they were used for. However, dirks were mostly part of the ceremonial… Read more: Dirk and scabbard blog
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  THE RED LION, EGHAM HIGH STREET
  At over 600, ‘Red Lion’ is the most popular pub name in the UK, referring to either the crests of John of Gaunt (Ghent), one of the richest men of the 1300s and founder of the House of Lancaster, or King James I… Read more: THE RED LION, EGHAM HIGH STREET
• Unravelling History. The Legacy of A&F Pears Baby Products
  What is so interesting about a baby powder box? One might ask this question when shown this object. This blog entry intends to show how the deceptively simple artefact possesses a fascinating, troubling and unexpected legacy. We begin with the company itself, A… Read more: Unravelling History. The Legacy of A&F Pears Baby Products
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  Just Williams Part 7 – some of the Victorian tradesmen who shaped Englefield Green
  This short series of articles, by Margaret Stewart, has been looking at some of the businesses which began trading in Egham during the Victorian era and continued for over 50 years. There were similar businesses away from the centre of Egham itself and… Read more: Just Williams Part 7 – some of the Victorian tradesmen who shaped Englefield Green
• Leptis Magna – A Digital Discovery
  As part of his Undergraduate degree in Video Games Art and Design at Royal Holloway, Tai Ball‘s final project led to the creation of a walkthrough of the Leptis Magna ruins, both in their original site in present-day Libya and in Windsor Great… Read more: Leptis Magna – A Digital Discovery
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  Just Williams. What’s in a name?
  What inspired me to write a series about men called William? It began when I was looking at Egham’s pubs for the timeline Lets all go on a pub crawl and I came across William Nash at 23 High Street. He had started… Read more: Just Williams. What’s in a name?
• Bell Indicator Board from Holloway Sanatorium.
  What does this remind you of? An avant garde art installation or something from Downton Abbey? The latter is a close guess. This glass-fronted wooden box-frame featuring 36 names and coloured markers is an electric bell indicator board invented by local electrical engineer… Read more: Bell Indicator Board from Holloway Sanatorium.
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  Just Williams Part 6 – some of the Victorian tradesmen who shaped Egham High Street
  by Margaret C Stewart 6.            William Blenheim, electrical engineer 3 Grange Road  Why am I including in this series a William whose business was not based in the High Street? This was a man, credited by his contemporary Rev Tranter Vicar of Egham[i]… Read more: Just Williams Part 6 – some of the Victorian tradesmen who shaped Egham High Street
• Work Experience at Egham Museum
  My name is Carys and I have spent a day doing work experience at Egham Museum.  I began my day at 10am where I was given a tour of the museum. I started my museum work by sorting out a display which I… Read more: Work Experience at Egham Museum
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  ‘Something for the girls’: Searching for Brownies and Girl Guides in the Egham Museum Archive
  Article by Hannah  It is ‘a rather cold and misty day’ on 4 September 1909 and 11,000 Boy Scouts are descending on Crystal Palace for a rally, led by their Chief Scout Robert Baden-Powell. What the Scouts don’t know is that hidden among… Read more: ‘Something for the girls’: Searching for Brownies and Girl Guides in the Egham Museum Archive
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  Egham and Staines, and the Eighteenth-Century London Foundling Hospital
  Article by Hannah Dennett After a long campaign by its founder Thomas Coram, London’s Foundling Hospital opened its doors on 25 March 1741 to receive the first infants into its care. It offered an alternative for mothers who may otherwise have abandoned their… Read more: Egham and Staines, and the Eighteenth-Century London Foundling Hospital
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  Just Williams Part 4 – some of the Victorian tradesmen who shaped Egham High Street
  Margaret C Stewart Over the last few years we have seen many of the businesses in Egham High Street close – and welcomed new ones. Even without a pandemic these frequent changes are not unusual but it is always pleasing to see how… Read more: Just Williams Part 4 – some of the Victorian tradesmen who shaped Egham High Street
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  Just Williams Part 3 – some of the Victorian tradesmen who shaped Egham High Street
  Margaret C Stewart Over the last few years we have seen many of the businesses in Egham High Street close – and welcomed new ones. Even without a pandemic these frequent changes are not unusual but it is always pleasing to see how… Read more: Just Williams Part 3 – some of the Victorian tradesmen who shaped Egham High Street
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  Child’s Boot
  Article by Cara Ross The use of shoes in English folklore has a long history, one that is rooted in the traditional oral superstitions that spans even to the modern day. However, by its nature, the roots of these traditions are hard to… Read more: Child’s Boot
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  ‘Riots, Rogues and Rebellions’…Where to Start?
  Exploring protest through comparison is not just fascinating. It has the potential to be immensely useful: improving our understanding of and facilitating more open conversations around discontent.
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  Egham Royal Show
  Article by Elena Guta The Egham Royal Show is a show which is annually held in the August bank holiday weekend. It is organised by Egham and Thorpe Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Association, offering the locals a chance to demonstrate their horticultural and… Read more: Egham Royal Show
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  Peculiarities in the Enclosure of Egham Act 1814; an hypothesis.
  by Geoff Meddelton Enclosure, the parcellation of land, a visible manifestation of the privatization of asset ownership characterized by the patchwork quilt patterning of much of the English countryside today had profound socio economic consequences which have been long recognized by historians.1 In… Read more: Peculiarities in the Enclosure of Egham Act 1814; an hypothesis.
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  Dessert spoon with Holloway Sanatorium
  Article by Cara Ross Another item in our collection originating from the sanatorium is this simple dessert spoon. This item is thought to originally made up part of the sanatorium’s dinner service, which would have been used by the patients at the daily… Read more: Dessert spoon with Holloway Sanatorium
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  Magna Charta Printing Works
  These undated advertising flyers in the museum document collection indicate the range of services offered for over 100 years (approx. 1860-1962) at the Magna Charta Printing Works, 60 High Street Egham. The print works was established in 1860 by brothers Richard and William… Read more: Magna Charta Printing Works
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  Just Williams Part 2 – some of the Victorian tradesmen who shaped Egham High Street
  Margaret C Stewart Over the last few years we have seen many of the businesses in Egham High Street close – and welcomed new ones. Even without a pandemic these frequent changes are not unusual but it is always pleasing to see how… Read more: Just Williams Part 2 – some of the Victorian tradesmen who shaped Egham High Street
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  Holloway Sanatorium
  By Cara Ross The grand façade of the Holloway Sanatorium is the brainchild of one William Crossland, a Yorkshire architect and the winner of Sir Thomas Holloway’s 1872 competition, with his design, which was completed in collaboration with John Philpot Jones and Edward… Read more: Holloway Sanatorium
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  An Investigation into Five Brass Imitation Spade Guineas
  Article by Jack McLoughlin Preamble: First examining these objects not so much as an expert in numismatics as someone who had to Google what that word means, my first thought upon seeing some coins with an image of George III and the date… Read more: An Investigation into Five Brass Imitation Spade Guineas
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  Herne’s Oak Paper Knife
  This paper knife is associated with the Schröder family, who resided at the Manor House at Dell Park, Englefield Green. They were a prominent family in the area and several family members are buried at St Jude’s Churchyard, Englefield Green. A paper knife… Read more: Herne’s Oak Paper Knife
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  Just Williams – some of the Victorian tradesmen who shaped Egham High Street
  Over the last few years we have seen many of the businesses in Egham High Street close – and welcomed new ones. Even without a pandemic these frequent changes are not unusual but it is always pleasing to see how some businesses stay… Read more: Just Williams – some of the Victorian tradesmen who shaped Egham High Street
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  Perfume: SHEM-EL-NESSIM — the scent of Araby?
  This object (Object MC34) is a perfume bottle with outer packaging, which was produced by J. Grossmith and Son of London, a long-running perfume company which was created in 1835. The company was dissolved in 1980 but has recently been revived by the… Read more: Perfume: SHEM-EL-NESSIM — the scent of Araby?
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  ‘Queer(y)ing History’- LGBTQ+ history and Egham Museum
  Article researched and written by Maria Petts. In recent years there has been an overdue revival in how we look and talk about history. Marginalised voices and figures that have been obscured from traditional historical narratives are being uncovered and explored like never… Read more: ‘Queer(y)ing History’- LGBTQ+ history and Egham Museum
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  The Totem Pole at Virginia Water
  The Totem pole has provided an eye-catching site for visitors to Virginia Water for over sixty years. It was formally installed in June 1958 and stands within the Valley Gardens area of Virginia Water, which forms part of the wider Windsor Great Park… Read more: The Totem Pole at Virginia Water
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  J. Grossmith & Son Perfume Bottle
  Object MC34 is a perfume bottle with outer packaging, which was produced by J. Grossmith and Son of London, a long-running perfume company which was created in 1835. The company was dissolved in 1980 but was recently revived by the descendants of the… Read more: J. Grossmith & Son Perfume Bottle
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  Somebody’s Luggage: The Wedding Photos of Charles Stratton and Lavinia Warren
  This series of photos, encased in a locket decorated as a suitcase and titled Somebody’s Luggage, depict the wedding of Charles Sherwood Stratton and Lavinia Warren. Stratton, better known by his stage name ‘General Tom Thumb’, was an associate of famous entertainer P.T… Read more: Somebody’s Luggage: The Wedding Photos of Charles Stratton and Lavinia Warren
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  Plate from Hopkins Bakery
  Object CER414 is a ceramic plate, bearing the name ‘J. Hopkins & Sons, Egham’. This plate can be matched to a bakery whose premises were situated at number 11, Egham High street. Bakeries were key shops of the Victorian and Edwardian high street… Read more: Plate from Hopkins Bakery
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  The Dallen Family Bakery
  Egham Museum’s collection includes a set of bakery items, including bread tins, price tags and a decorative biscuit tin. We have been taking a look at the bakery to learn more about the family who ran it. The Dallen family (mother Charlotte, father… Read more: The Dallen Family Bakery
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  Exploring Egham’s LGBTQ+ history: The Story of Gwen Lally, pageant master and queer historical figure?
  Article researched and written by Maria Petts. Gwen Lally, born Gwendoline Rosalie Lally Tollendal Speck, was a prolific producer of historical pageants, famously producing the Pageant of Runnymede in 1934. Gwen Lally was a striking figure for her time, often dressing in traditionally… Read more: Exploring Egham’s LGBTQ+ history: The Story of Gwen Lally, pageant master and queer historical figure?
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  Silver spatula from Nightingale’s Chemist
  Object MC838 is a silver spatula, engraved with the words Nightingale Chemist Egham. , cut down from a dessert knife with a mother of pearl handle. It would have been used as a laboratory implement for breaking up, scraping off, picking up and… Read more: Silver spatula from Nightingale’s Chemist
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  Paper knife made from Herne’s Oak
  This paper knife or letter opener is associated with the Schroder family, (https://eghammuseum.org/the-schroder-family-of-englefield-green/) who resided at the Manor  House at Dell Park, Englefield Green. They were a prominent family in the area and several  family members are buried at St Jude’s Churchyard ,… Read more: Paper knife made from Herne’s Oak
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  The Schröder family of Englefield Green
  The Schröders who lived at the Manor House at Dell Park, Englefield Green,  were an elite family originally from  Hamburg, now part of Germany. They were granted the right to the continued use of the  honorific ‘Baron’ and ‘Baroness’ while residing in Great… Read more: The Schröder family of Englefield Green
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  Phoenix Fire Engine plaque.
  This plaque represents the presentation by Baron Bruno Schroder of a motorised fire engine, aptly named ‘The Phoenix’, to the Egham Voluntary Fire Service in 1913. The full story of Egham’s ever-changing fire service is told at https://eghammuseum.org/eghams-fire-brigade/
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  Inscribed pane of glass from The Red Lion, High Street
  Object MC1067 in the Museum is an inscribed pane of glass from the windows of the upper west side of the Red Lion Inn, removed in February 1938. An accompanying letter explains “This is a record and original glass  from the windows of upper… Read more: Inscribed pane of glass from The Red Lion, High Street
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  A brief history of Coopers Hill
  This article was inspired by a small collection of items found during our Collections Review, which were all linked to the Royal Indian Engineering College at Coopers Hill. Those items were: MC1297 – a trophy from Coopers Hill Boat Club 1887 MC767 –… Read more: A brief history of Coopers Hill
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  Cyclists’ Touring Club
  The Cyclists’ Touring Club was originally founded in 1878 under the name Bicycle Touring Club, which was subsequently re-named to the Cyclists’ Touring Club in1883, and then to Cycling UK in 2016, as it is known today. It is a worldwide network of… Read more: Cyclists’ Touring Club
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  Dennis Servant’s Agency
  In the Museum’s collection we have object number MC677, ‘Dennis Servant’s Agency’ sign board 1900’s, Egham High Street. There is a record of a ‘Domestic Servants Registry’ at number 90 High Street Egham from 1932-1947. It is likely that the ‘Dennis Servant’s Agency’… Read more: Dennis Servant’s Agency
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  ‘Monster’ in Pond
  We have a rather unique collection item here at Egham Museum. This is the story of one local man’s unique fishing achievement. In September 1947, Jack Williams, motor engineer of Norlands Lane, Thorpe, caught one of the biggest common carp ever caught in… Read more: ‘Monster’ in Pond
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  Every Object Tells a Story
  Inspired by the release of The Dig (a new Netflix film about the discovery of Sutton Hoo on the eve of the Second World War) we put together a Twitter thread of items from our collection which reminded us of the film. You… Read more: Every Object Tells a Story
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  Egham Museum embarks on a Collections Review and Rationalisation Project
  The Egham Museum has been collecting items for over 50 years; our collection has grown substantially since we first opened our doors in 1969. The collection comprises 370 pictures and prints, 5,270 documents, 4,980 photos, 1,400 slides, 1,270 maps, 450 ceramics, 190 costumes,… Read more: Egham Museum embarks on a Collections Review and Rationalisation Project
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  Flights over the Meads – the aeroplanes which used Runnymede as an airstrip
  Who can forget the glorious sight of the RAF Red Arrows soaring over Runnymede to mark the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta and in 2020 the 75th Anniversary of VE Day? Or the fascinating tale of the wartime US plane which crash landed… Read more: Flights over the Meads – the aeroplanes which used Runnymede as an airstrip
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  The Egham Regatta
  The Egham Regatta has taken place on the River Thames, just upstream from the Bell Weir Lock, since 1909. It continued throughout the 20th century, pausing only for the First and Second World Wars and a few years in the 1930s. For much… Read more: The Egham Regatta
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  HMS Orestes Plaque
  “Presented by The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to EGHAM to commemorate the adoption of HMS ORESTES during Warship Week March 14th 1942.” During the Second World War (1939-1945), The National War Savings Committee began an initiative to raise money for the Admiralty,… Read more: HMS Orestes Plaque
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  How many number ones does a High Street need?
  In 2016 Isosceles Finance demolished the former Egham Police Station, on the corner of High Street and Vicarage Road, to build a smart new headquarters. As a memorable name for the site of their new offices and 16 luxury apartments they chose ‘One… Read more: How many number ones does a High Street need?
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  Egham’s Fire Brigade
  The fire service in the 19th century didn’t function as it does today. Instead, fire protection was provided by private insurance companies, signified by a plaque on the protected house. Each insurer had a private fire brigade to put out the fires of… Read more: Egham’s Fire Brigade
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  Egham’s Police Force
  First patrols Despite its distance from London, Egham and Englefield Green were included in the Bow Street Horse Patrol. The patrol was originally founded in 1763 to have a presence patrolling the highways in and around London, but it died out due to… Read more: Egham’s Police Force
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  Going to the cinema for local news
  Before television, and indeed the internet, people went to the cinema to watch the news. Silent newsreels were provided by: Société Pathé Frères 1896-1910, British Movietone 1895-1929; Pathé Gazette 1910-45 (adding sound from 1930); Topical Budget 1911-1931; Gaumont Graphic 1910-1932; Empire News Bulletin… Read more: Going to the cinema for local news
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  You’ll never believe who I just saw…! Part 2
  Did you see Bing Crosby having a drink at the Eclipse pub (now Prezzo) or Michael Caine driving his car ALF 1E through Egham?  Some of our museum correspondents did! The current exhibition ‘Location, Location, Location’ includes a gallery of over 50 film… Read more: You’ll never believe who I just saw…! Part 2
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  You’ll never believe who I just saw…! Part 1
  Did you see Bing Crosby having a drink at the Eclipse pub (now Prezzo) or Michael Caine driving his car ALF 1E through Egham?  Some of our museum correspondents did! The current exhibition ‘Location, Location, Location‘ includes a gallery of over 50 film… Read more: You’ll never believe who I just saw…! Part 1
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  Films and TV Programmes filmed locally
  As part of our 2020 temporary exhibition, ‘Location, Location, Location: Egham and Area Behind and in Front of the Camera’, (revived and updated in 2024) here is our full list of Films and TV Programmes filmed locally. It includes documentaries, reality shows, short… Read more: Films and TV Programmes filmed locally