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Next Exhibition - PICTURE THIS - February 2025
Stereoscopes, cameras then and now and photographs, both local and iconic. |
Many more photographs of Redbourn are available in the Geoff Webb Collection on Herts Memories
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Exhibition August - November 2024 Redbournbury Mill |
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Work began to rebuild the mill - our latest exhibition tells the story......
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December 2023 "Christmas in Hertfordshire" A talk by Colin Oakes Activities continued after the museum closed with a fascinating talk by professional archaeologist and London Guide, Colin Oakes. He covered an assortment of festive topics including Hatfield aristocratic celebrations, the Seasonal Soup Kitchen at Berkhamsted, St. Albans Cottage Christmas, the hamlet of Cold Christmas and much more! Colin is an excellent speaker with an amazing knowledge and recall of historical information. |
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Outing to Peacock's Auction House, Bedford
October 2023 We travelled by coach to the modern premises of W&H Peacock where we were given an introduction by auctioneers, followed by a tour of the warehouse and saleroom and finally a valuation exercise focusing on 5 items up for sale. The fascinating visit concluded with lunch in the cafe. 
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Exhibition - June 2023
Recreation in Redbourn
Celebrating the 200th anniversary of Redbourn Cricket Club, the thriving tennis club, opening of the Recreation Centre and many other sporting activities in the village.
Recreation in Redbourn
Celebrating the 200th anniversary of Redbourn Cricket Club, the thriving tennis club, opening of the Recreation Centre and many other sporting activities in the village.
Outing to Whitchurch Silk Mill and
The Museum of English Rural Life
17th August
The working silk mill is set in lovely surroundings alongside the River Test in the centre of the pretty village of Whitchurch, Hampshire. We chose this for our outing to learn more about Woollams Silk Mill. At Whitchurch, not only were the skeins of silk cleaned, thrown, and wound onto bobbins, but dying and weaving was also carried out. There is an attractive café and shop selling silk products, some locally made.
Our day included coach travel, a guided tour of the working silk mill followed by a light lunch of sandwiches and cake before onward travel to The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) in Reading.
MERL houses a large and fascinating collection of items once used in the countryside.
Redbourn in Steam August 2023 - a popular annual event.
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"Coronations"
To coincide with the Coronation of King Charles III, this exhibition included items from the museum collection and others on loan from local people which were displayed in the Community Cabinet.
To coincide with the Coronation of King Charles III, this exhibition included items from the museum collection and others on loan from local people which were displayed in the Community Cabinet.
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"Educating Redbourn" exhibition covered the history of Redbourn's schools. 
Discovery drawers full of quirky objects. The cabinet came from the chemist's premises in the High Street, owned by George Wilson. WOOLSEY'S MINIATURE RAILWAY came to REDBOURN CLASSICS 2022 and donated £200 proceeds to the Museum. THANK YOU! Woolsey's provide a portable railway at events to help raise money for charities. [email protected] It involves really hard work, transporting track and trains. How amazing is that! You were fantastic! Thank you again to Woolsey's and the organising committee of Redbourn Classics for making it happen. It was a very successful event. |
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REDBOURN IN STEAM 2022
Traction engines visit the museum. |
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REDBOURN VILLAGE HALL EXHIBITION
ON NOW IN THE SKILLMAN GALLERY AT REDBOURN VILLAGE MUSEUM
IN FEBRUARY 2022, REDBOURN VILLAGE HALL CELEBRATES ITS CENTENARY!
The Village Hall in Redbourn High Street, started life as a straw hat factory and was later extended and opened as Redbourn Public Hall on 14th February 1922.
Redbourn Village museum is fortunate to have 3 hours of cine film from the late 40s and early 50s produced by local cinematographer John Heather, who moved from Harpenden to Redbourn and became a much loved resident of Lamb Lane. These films are always available to view on our mini cinema in the Skillman Gallery, where we now have a new exhibition about the Village Hall.
REDBOURN FRIDAY NIGHT CINEMA
Platinum Jubilee Celebration
MR HEATHER’S FILMS AT THE VILLAGE HALL
7.30 PM FRIDAY 3RD JUNE
NOSTALGIC FILMS OF REDBOURN AROUND 70 YEARS AGO
Featuring:
The other “Outing to Southend” from Redbourn Station;
“Games on the Common” on Coronation Day, Cycle races at Hill Top and others!
MR HEATHER’S FILMS AT THE VILLAGE HALL
10.30 AM – 12 NOON SATURDAY 12TH FEBRUARY
NOSTALGIC FILMS OF REDBOURN AROUND 70 YEARS AGO
Doors open from 10 am, refreshments available from the “foyer”
Featuring:
“Outing to Southend” from Redbourn Station; “Snow Sunday”;
“Games on the Common” and others
So, forget Saturday morning shopping just this once and come to the pictures!
Tickets £5 by advance reservation only, please contact John and Pauline
on 01582 626055 or e-mail [email protected]
THIS EVENT SOLD OUT!
ST. ALBANS - A CITY STEEPED IN HISTORY
Activities continue when the museum closes and the next is this illustrated talk by St Albans Guide, Lexi Barbakoff who will take us through two thousand years of St Albans history from the warrior Queen Boudicca, Wars of the Roses, revolting peasants to the man behind the Ryder Cup (shame we lost this year!). St Albans has played host to many of the country’s key historical people and events. The city is an archaeological treasure house full of amazing discoveries in unexpected corners. The monastic market town founded around the shrine of Britain’s first saint, Alban, has many stories to tell.
EXHIBITION ON REDBOURN’S ALMSHOUSES
Our previous temporary exhibition in the first floor Skillman Gallery explained the history of Woollams Almshouses, endowed by Mary Woollam in memory of her husband Charles, who was the owner of Redbourn’s silk mill. It was timed to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Almshouse Association. A garden party was held in September 2021 for Woollams’ residents, friends and families, hosted by the Trustees of The Redbourn Charities.
Open Garden September 2020
As part of Heritage Open Week, the museum garden was open to visitors.
Our voluntary gardeners have been working hard to keep the grounds in the best possible condition. We have the magnificent Portico from Redbourn House with a secret garden behind and now a fun new art installation called “Puffing Annie”, designed by Linda Owen and created together with James Millers.
The locals’ nickname for the engine on the Nickey Line was “Puffing Annie” due to the noise and steam created climbing the steep gradients. Our engine, 43245, was a workhorse on the route, predominantly a freight line, but providing a passenger service linking Redbourn with Harpenden and Hemel Hempstead. If only we still had that useful connection with our nearest nearby towns.
As well as "Puffing Annie" and her fascinating components, you can see our expanding collection of outside exhibits, including garden tools and replica stocks.
