The Museum of Richmond in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is located in Richmond's Old Town Hall, close to Richmond Bridge. It was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 28 October 1988. An independent

museum A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and other objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance. Many public museums make thes ...

and a registered charity,It is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales as charity number 295164.
it is supported by Richmond upon Thames Borough Council. Hilda Clarke chairs the board of trustees;

John Lee, Baron Lee of Trafford John Robert Louis Lee, Baron Lee of Trafford, DL (born 21 June 1942) is a British Liberal Democrat politician, who has sat as a life peer since 2006. He was previously a Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) from 1979 to 1992. Parliamentar ...

is deputy chair. Its curator (since February 2021) is Laura Irwin. The museum's permanent displays, from

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

times to the present day, relate to the history of Richmond,

Kew Kew () is a district in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Its population at the 2011 census was 11,436. Kew is the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens ("Kew Gardens"), now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace. Kew is a ...

, Petersham and

Ham Ham is pork from a leg cut that has been preserved by wet or dry curing, with or without smoking."Bacon: Bacon and Ham Curing" in ''Chambers's Encyclopædia''. London: George Newnes, 1961, Vol. 2, p. 39. As a processed meat, the term "ham ...

which, until local government boundary changes in 1965, formed the

Municipal Borough of Richmond (Surrey) The Municipal Borough of Richmond or Richmond Municipal Borough was a municipal borough in Surrey, England from 1890 to 1965.

. Its temporary exhibitions, education activities and resources, and a programme of events (including events for families and children) cover the whole of the modern borough. The museum's highlights include: 16th-century glass from

Richmond Palace Richmond Palace was a royal residence on the River Thames in England which stood in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Situated in what was then rural Surrey, it lay upstream and on the opposite bank from the Palace of Westminster, which ...

; a model of Richmond Palace; and a painting, ''The Terrace and View from Richmond Hill, Surrey'' by

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

draughtsman and painter Leonard Knyff (1650–1722), which is part of the Richmond upon Thames Borough Art Collection. The museum publishes a quarterly newsletter and organises a programme of talks. Admission to the museum, which is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays, is free.

History

The museum was created in 1983 by local residents led by local historian John Cloake (who was the museum's first chairman). Its first

curator A curator (from la, cura, meaning "to take care") is a manager or overseer. When working with cultural organizations, a curator is typically a "collections curator" or an "exhibitions curator", and has multifaceted tasks dependent on the parti ...

(from 1987 to 1989) was Kate Thaxton.

Exhibitions

The museum's current exhibition, running from 27 September 2022 until May 2023, is ''Richmond Remembers: 100 Years of the Poppy Factory''. Its previous exhibitions include:

2020s

*2021–22 ''OT50 – Fifty Years of The Orange Tree Theatre''. Extracts from oral histories that accompanied the exhibition ar
available online
*2021 ''The King's Observatory: Richmond's Science Story'', about the history of the

King's Observatory The King's Observatory (called for many years the Kew Observatory) is a Grade I listed building in Richmond, London. Now a private dwelling, it formerly housed an astronomical and terrestrial magnetic observatory founded by King George III. T ...

in Old Deer Park. An extended version of the exhibition i
available online
*2020–21 ''Queen's Road: 500 Years of History'', about Queen's Road, Richmond, a historic road that runs from Sheen Road to the top of Richmond Hill. As physical access to the museum was affected by government restrictions imposed during the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

, a digital version was also produced
The online version is still available

2010s

* 2019–20 ''Celebrating 800 years of St. Mary Magdalene at the heart of Richmond'', about Richmond's historic parish church *2018–19 ''Museum of Richmond 30th anniversary exhibition: 30 years, 30 people, 30 objects'' * 2018 ''Archaeology: Richmond's Prehistory'' * 2017–18 ''Poverty'' * 2017 ''Old Palace Lane: Medieval to Modern Richmond'' * 2016–17 '' The Royal Star & Garter: 100 Years of Care'', marking the centenary of the founding, in Richmond, of the first Star and Garter Home * 2015–16 ''The Battle of Britain 75 years on – Richmond Remembers the Second World War'' * 2014–15 ''1914–1918 Richmond at Home and at War: Local stories and their international links'', Richmond's experience of the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

* 2014 ''Encountering the Unchartered and back – Three explorers: Ball, Vancouver and Burton'', telling the story of explorers

Henry Lidgbird Ball Henry Lidgbird Ball (7 December 1756 – 22 October 1818) was a Rear-Admiral in the Royal Navy of the British Empire. While Ball was best known as the commander of the First Fleet's , he was also notable for the exploration and the establishmen ...

, George Vancouver and

Richard Burton Richard Burton (; born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr.; 10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. Noted for his baritone voice, Burton established himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor in the 1950s, and he gave a memorable pe ...

and their connections with Richmond * 2013 ''Living and Dying in 19th Century Richmond'', exploring the lives of some of Richmond's 19th-century residents * 2012–13 ''The Building of a Borough'', showcasing building plans held in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames’ Local Studies Collection * 2012 ''Royal Minstrels to Rock and Roll: 500 years of music-making in Richmond'' * 2012 ''Happy and Glorious: popular Royal celebration and commemoration in Richmond * 2010–11 ''Richmond Theatre: Through the Stages'' * 2010 ''How the Vote Was Won: Art, Theatre and Women's Suffrage''

2000s

* 2009–10 ''Richmond – From Page to Screen'' * 2009 ''From Henry VII to Henry VIII'', marking the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry VII at Richmond Palace and the accession to the throne of his son Henry VIII * 2007 ''The Two Richmonds – A Celebration of their Twinning'', marking the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown and the twinning relationship of Richmond, Surrey and Richmond, Virginia * 2007 ''Trading in Human Lives: The Richmond Connection'', on Richmond and the slave trade * 2006–07 ''Men Remade: Paul Drury’s War in Richmond'', featuring the work of the 20th-century artist and printmaker Paul Drury * 2006 ''A Rich Heritage'', featuring items from the borough's Local Studies Collection * 2005–06 ''Turner-Upon-Thames'', focusing on the period when the artist

J M W Turner Joseph Mallord William Turner (23 April 177519 December 1851), known in his time as William Turner, was an English Romantic painter, printmaker and watercolourist. He is known for his expressive colouring, imaginative landscapes and turbule ...

lived in Isleworth and in Twickenham * 2005 ''Barnes & Mortlake Past'', celebrating 50 years of the founding of Barnes and Mortlake History Society * 2004–05 ''Britflicks-on-Thames: Film Studios of the Borough and Beyond'' * 2004 ''The Sensational Miss Braddon'', about the author Mary Braddon who lived and died in Richmond * 2003 ''Without Exception'', a selection of original prints by

Thomas Rowlandson Thomas Rowlandson (; 13 July 175721 April 1827) was an English artist and caricaturist of the Georgian Era, noted for his political satire and social observation. A prolific artist and printmaker, Rowlandson produced both individual social an ...

of "The English Dance of Death" (1815–1816) * 2003 ''The Virgin Queen in Richmond'', marking the 400th anniversary of the death, at Richmond Palace, of Elizabeth I * 2002 ''The Fight To Save The View'', marking the 100th anniversary of the Richmond, Petersham and Ham Open Spaces Act which has protected the view from Richmond Hill * 2002 ''Stage by Stage: Richmond's Theatrical Heritage'' * 2001–02 ''Richmond's River: Pictures of and inspired by the Thames in Richmond'' * 2000 ''From Canvas to Camera: George Hilditch 1803–1857''

1990s

* 1998–99 ''Arthur Hughes: The Last Pre-Raphaelite'', about the

Pre-Raphaelite The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (later known as the Pre-Raphaelites) was a group of English painters, poets, and art critics, founded in 1848 by William Holman Hunt, John Everett Millais, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Michael Rossetti, James ...

artist Arthur Hughes, who died at his house on

Kew Green Kew Green is a large open space in Kew in west London. Owned by the Crown Estate, it is leased to the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is roughly triangular in shape, and its open grassland, framed with broadleaf trees, extends to abo ...

in 1915 and is buried in

Richmond Cemetery Richmond Cemetery is a cemetery on Lower Grove Road in Richmond in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, England. The cemetery opened in 1786 on a plot of land granted by an Act of Parliament the previous year. The cemetery has been expande ...

* 1997–98 ''Richmond Women Face to Face'', famous women who lived in Richmond * 1997 ''The Henry Doulton Legacy: 120 Years of Royal Doulton'' * 1997 ''The Best Years of Our Lives? Going to school in Richmond'' – reminiscences of Richmond school days * 1996–97 ''Spencer Gore in Richmond'', about the artist Spencer Gore who lived in Richmond and died there in 1914 * 1995–96 ''Past & Present: The Changing Face of Richmond'' * 1995 ''Going Shopping!'' * 1995 ''The Artist's Inspiration: Views of Richmond upon Thames'' The Poppy Factory's headquarters in Richmond, London

The Poppy Factory's headquarters in Richmond, London

* 1994–95 ''The Factory of Remembrance: The Poppy & the Royal British Legion Poppy Factory'' * 1994 ''Father & Son: The Art of Roland & Bernard Batchelor'' * 1994 Simplest Country Gentlefolk': The Royal Family at Kew 1727–1841'' * 1993–94 ''Prospects About Richmond'': mid-18th century drawings and prints by Augustin Heckel * 1993 ''Richmond at War: The Civilian Experience 1939–45'' * 1992 ''Mr K: The legend of Edmund Kean'' * 1992 ''Farewell Ice-Rink'', marking the closure that year of Richmond Ice Rink * 1991–92 ''Mr Rowlandson's Richmond: Thomas Rowlandson's Drawings of Richmond-upon-Thames'' * 1991 ''The Richmond Royal Horse Show'', an event held regularly in Richmond from 1892 to 1967 * 1991 ''Virginia Woolf and the Hogarth Press in Richmond''

1980s

* 1989 ''Pissarro in Richmond'', about Camille Pissarro and other artistic members of his family who lived in Kew and Richmond

Publications

The museum's publications include: *Robinson, Derek (2019) ''The Richmond Vicars: the ministers of St Mary Magdalene and their role in the community'', 106pp. * Robinson, Derek; Fowler, Simon (2017) ''Old Palace Lane: Medieval to Modern Richmond'', 44pp. Published jointly with the

Richmond Local History Society Richmond is a town in south-west London,The London Government Act 1963 (c.33) (as amended) categorises the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames as an Outer London borough. Although it is on both sides of the River Thames, the Boundary Commis ...

. . A second edition (48pp; ) was published in 2020. * Boyes, Valerie (ed.) (2014) ''Encountering the Uncharted and Back – three explorers: Ball, Vancouver and Burton'', 24pp. * Boyes, Valerie (with contributions from Govett, John) (2013) ''Living and Dying in 19th Century Richmond'', 25pp. * Boyes, Valerie (with contributions from Cloake, John and Paytress, Mark) (2012) ''Royal Minstrels to Rock and Roll: 500 years of music-making in Richmond'', 28pp. * Boyes, Valerie (ed.) (2009) ''Richmond on Page and Screen'', 36pp. * Moses, John; Cloake, John (2007) ''The Two Richmonds: a celebration of their twinning, the American connection'', 14pp. OCLC 143627273 * Boyes, Valerie (2007) ''Trading in Human Lives: The Richmond Connection'', 28pp. * Moses, John (2005) ''Turner-upon-Thames'', 13pp. * Roberts, Leonard and Wildman, Stephen (1999) ''Arthur Hughes: The Last Pre-Raphaelite'', 48pp. * Gore, Frederick (1996) ''Spencer Gore in Richmond: an exhibition at the Museum of Richmond 10 September 1996 to 25 January 1997'', 44pp. * Museum of Richmond (1994) ''Simplest Country Gentlefolk: Royal Family at Kew, 1727–1841'', 36pp. * Jeffree, Richard (1991) ''Mr Rowlandson's Richmond: Thomas Rowlandson's Drawings of Richmond-upon-Thames'', 89pp.

Patrons

Princess Alexandra is the museum's Royal Patron. Its other patrons are: author and broadcaster

Anita Anand Anita Anand (born May 20, 1967) is a Canadian lawyer and politician who serves as the minister of national defence since 2021. She has represented the riding of Oakville in the House of Commons since the 2019 federal election, sitting as ...

; broadcaster and naturalist

Sir David Attenborough Sir David Frederick Attenborough (; born 8 May 1926) is an English broadcaster, biologist, natural historian and author. He is best known for writing and presenting, in conjunction with the BBC Natural History Unit, the nine natural histor ...

; businesswoman Ann Chapman-Daniel, Richmond hotelier Greville Dare; actor, novelist, screenwriter and film director Julian Fellowes (Baron Fellowes of West Stafford);

Lady Annabel Goldsmith Lady Annabel Goldsmith (' Vane-Tempest-Stewart, formerly Birley; born 11 June 1934) is an English socialite and the eponym for a London nightclub of the late 20th century, Annabel's. She was first married for two decades to entrepreneur Mark B ...

; and broadcaster, writer and politician Lord Watson of Richmond.

Notes

References

External links

Official website
{{Coord, 51.45884, -0.30653, type:landmark_region:GB, format=dms, display=title Museum of Richmond Museum of Richmond David Attenborough Charities based in London History museums in London Richmond, London History of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Local museums in London Museums established in 1988 Museums in Richmond upon Thames