Collection: Dacorum Heritage

Collection-level records:

• Collection overview (Cornucopia)

  Archaeology

  The museum store holds a considerable amount of archaeological material, including excavated material from the Roman villas of Gadebridge, Boxmoor, King’s Langley and Northchurch, the Belgic cemetery at Aldbury and the Royal Place and Friary at King’s Langley.

  Numismatics

  The Trust holds a large collection of coins, mainly archaeological, as well as a small collection of tokens and bank notes.

  Fine and Decorative Art

  The collection includes oil paintings, watercolours, drawings and prints, mainly topographical or by local artists. A recent acquisition has been a collection of eight watercolours, painted in the early 1920s. The artist is unknown, but all of the paintings have the initials A.W, and can possibly be attributed to Arthur Watmore of Hemel Hempstead. There is a very small collection of decorative arts.

  Social History

  The social and local history collections reflect the domestic, community and working lives of the people of Dacorum over the last 300 years, although there are significant gaps in the collections. There is a growing collection of material relating to the paper making industry around Hemel Hempstead (Dickinson’s), to Coopers of Berkhamstead, to Novartis (Ovaltine) and to the local straw plait industry. There is a small collection of items associated with the firm of Davis and Bailey Ltd, manufacturers of agricultural tools and machinery, Hemel Hempstead.

  The Edward Sammes Collection

  The museum holds a collection of photographs, posters, enamel signs and packaging relating to the firm of Cooper’s of Berkamsted, begun by William Cooper in the 1840’s and which closed in 1997 after passing through various owners since the late 1940’s. Cooper’s were renowned for the manufcature of agricultural and household chemicals, such as sheep dips and fly sprays.;Collection of photographs relating to the development of Hemel Hempstead New Town.

  Archives

  The Trust has a strong collection of photographs from all of the contributing societies but particularly of the Berkhamsted, Hemel Hempstead and Kings Langley areas from the late 19th and early 20 centuries. It includes images of local scenes, personalities, events and activities. There is also a small collection of film. A set of undertaker’s record books (Horn & Co. of Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead) dating from circa 1900-50 which provide fascinating details about the funeral arrangements as well as details about the deceased – name, age, address, occupation, next-of-kin etc. There are about 12 books in total.

  Costume

  The bulk of the costume collection belongs to Kings Langley Local History and Museum Society, and consists of about 400 items, mainly of late 19th century and early 20th century date.

  Geology

  The Trust holds a very few geological specimens.

  Source: Cornucopia

  Date: Not known, but before 2015

  Licence: CC BY-NC