A new column from Godalming Museum

We are delighted to announce that Godalming Museum has agreed to become a Nub News contributor.

Staff and volunteers will write a regular column on items of interest in the museum's collection, as well as updates on events and other news.

We start with a piece by Curator Alison Pattison about the museum – where it is and what you can find there.

Godalming Museum is tucked away behind an unassuming shop door at 109a on the High Street.

Behind the Georgian brick front is a medieval timber-framed building, housing displays which tell the story of Godalming from Cretaceous fossils to 20th century memories.

The museum garden, with its oak door in a brick arch off South Street car park, is based on a design by Gertrude Jekyll and is overlooked by a gallery which celebrates her life and work in the context of the West Surrey Arts and Crafts Movement.

Upstairs, the museum's local studies library gives researchers access to a fascinating archive of information about the town and its inhabitants over many generations.

At the heart of the museum are its collections. For almost 100 years the people of Godalming have donated objects which they wanted to share with future generations; anything from a mammoth tooth dug up in Bridge Street by Victorian builders, to picture postcards of local views; from early 20th century film by Mr Fudger of the Station Road Electric Empire cinema to local meteorological records.

In normal times the museum is a lively place, staffed by a team of volunteers who welcome visitors, run the museum shop and café, organise exhibitions of the work of local artists and photographers, and lead school workshops and town walks.

In March, of course, all of this changed.

However there are still ways in which you can engage with your museum:

Visit the exhibition Godalming's Secret Cemetery, about the discovery and excavation of a Saxon cemetery in the heart of the town. There are just four more days to visit: Monday 5th October, Saturday 10th, Monday 12th and Friday 16th. Ring the museum on 01483 426510 to book.

Browse through 100 short films created during lockdown and featuring objects from the collections, here or here.

Enjoy some lovely historical photographs of the town, including a photographic survey of the High Street in 1961, here.

Join the Friends of the Museum here - support your museum, receive the museum newsletter and keep up to date with museum news.