Collection: Royston Museum

Collection-level records:

• Collection overview (Cornucopia)

  Archaeology

  Collections include local material from the Stone Age to the Anglo-Saxons, with some medieval artefacts. The collections mainly relate to Therfield Heathe, Kelshall and Littlington, excavated in the nineteenth century by Nunn and Phillips.

  Local and Social History

  The collections include an example of the first catalytic converter, which was made in Royston; The social history collections cover mainly the Victorian and Edwardian periods, with some more recent 20th century material. They include domestic equipment, children’s toys and games, items relating to schooling and the impact of two World Wars on the town, and to the trades, occupations and social life. There is a small collection of souvenirs and memorabilia associated with local events and celebrations. A collection of local postmarks and local postal history. The photographic collection includes original and copy images of Royston and the surrounding villages, mainly from 11865-1914.;There is a small ephemera collection, which includes programmes from local dramatic and musical societies, agricultural and other shows and church activities. There is a collection of newspaper cuttings and copies of the Royston Crow from 1855 to 1979.;The museum has a collection of costume from the 19th and 20th centuries. The Royston Tapestry is a long embroidery, begun in 1992, which is being sewn in the museum by volunteers. It is designed to enhance the museum collections and depicts important events in the history of the town and district.

  Fine Art

  The museum holds a collection of works by local artists and featuring local scenes, in particular by E H Whydale, and by Harry Thurnall. An excellent and representative collection of works by E H Whydale including oils, watercolours, pencil sketches etchings, engravings and prints, many of local scenes, and about 100 etchings, lithographs and plates from his own personal collection donated by one of his students. Fifteen sketches by local artist and journalist Harry Thurnall, including the original oil sketches for his etchings shown in his illustrations for Kingston’s History of Royston and in ‘Winter Recreations in the Time of Queen Anne’.

  Decorative Art

  The museum displays a fine collection of late 19th century and early 20th century ceramics and glass, mainly from the Arts and Crafts movement, which is on loan from the Keatley Foundation. Artists represented include William de Morgan, the Martin Brothers, Moorcroft Pottery, Lucy Rie, and Clarice Cliff. Also on display is a splendid charger specially commissioned from Laurence McGowan to celebrate the Millennium.

  Source: Cornucopia

  Date: Not known, but before 2015

  Licence: CC BY-NC