Collection: The Lightbox

Collection-level records:

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  The Permanent Collection

  The Permanent Collection constitutes the main museum collection. It is formed of objects with a potential for display and which may be used for research. Items accepted for the Permanent Collection must conform to the criteria set out in (paras 3.1 to 4.3).

  Description of the existing collections

  Local History Collection.

  Developing collection representing various areas of Woking life from the mid-19th century to the present. Includes:

  • Ephemera relating to a range of aspects of Woking’s past. Well represented themes currently include: transport, local people, local businesses, education, entertainment, sport
  • Photographs depicting Woking scenes, people (including oral history interviewees), institutions and businesses
  • Objects including artefacts relating to Woking Station, the Southern Railway and commuting; tools from local businesses and nurseries
  • Prints of the Royal Dramatic College, Woking
  • Architectural fittings from local buildings, including pair of factory gates from James Walker Ltd.; pair of circular stained glass windows from the hall of the Royal Dramatic College
  • Costume including 19th century mourning clothes.

  Brookwood Hospital Collection.

  Approximately 300 items representing methods of treatment and aspects of daily life at the Brookwood Hospital for the mentally ill. Includes medical equipment, costume, furniture, household items, tools & equipment and books.

  This has been supplemented by items from the Brookwood Hospital printing shop (photographic plates dating from 1950s, lettersets, roller etc).

  Van Zwanenberg Collection.

  Approximately 100 items of 19th century costume. Includes dresses, undergarments and children’s clothes.

  Robinson Collection

  Approximately 100 items relating to the first and major department store in Woking ‘Robinsons’. Consists of shop fittings, advertisements, photographs, drapery items.

  Woking Palace Collection.

  A collection of archaeological artefacts from several digs and archaeological activities at this important site, from the 14th to the 16th centuries.

  The Joan Hurst Collection

  A collection of 20 Modern British and contemporary sculptures donated by Miss Hurst through The Art Fund.

  The Ingram Collection

  The Lightbox houses and regularly exhibits The Ingram Collection one of the largest and most significant publicly accessibly collections of modern British art in the UK.

  The Contemporary Sculpture Collection

  A collection of contemporary sculptural works and drawings by Sean Henry and Julian Wild acquired via donors that are on permanent and temporary display inside and outside the building. Works acquired via The Robert Baden Powell Legacy Fund enter The Contemporary Sculpture Collection.

  The Reference Collection

  The Trust will acquire reference material relating to Woking and Woking people, to subjects represented in the Collection and to arts and crafts. This collection will be accessible via the Research Room which is open for public use. The Reference collection will not be accessioned, but will have its own catalogue and numbering system. Items accepted into the Reference Collection may include books and papers, but it will not include items which should properly be part of the archive at the Surrey History Centre, unless they are duplicates of items already there.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2023

  Licence: CC BY-NC