Grantham Museum

Grantham Museum stands in the town centre on St Peter’s Hill, inside the former Carnegie Library building. The library opened in 1926 after being partly funded by the Carnegie UK Trust, part of Andrew Carnegie’s plan to build libraries across the United Kingdom. Architects Gilbert A. Ballard and H.A. Gold designed the library, which later became home to the museum. The idea for the museum began in the 1890s through meetings of the Grantham Scientific Society. In 2011 the Grantham Community Heritage Association took over running the museum from the county council.

The museum’s collection started with material from Henry Preston, its first curator and founder. Later additions include items about Sir Isaac Newton, who attended school in Grantham, and Edith Smith, Britain’s first female police officer. There are also displays on the Dambusters Raid and Margaret Thatcher, who was born and raised in the town. A statue of Thatcher was placed on St Peter’s Hill Green near the museum in 2022. The statue stands on a tall plinth to prevent vandalism.

Visitors find the museum in a single-storey building that once served as the town library. Inside, rooms hold changing exhibitions alongside permanent displays about local history. The building itself is a quiet space for looking at objects and reading information panels. Outside, the green around the statue offers a place to pause before or after visiting. The museum provides a clear view of Grantham’s past through carefully arranged exhibits.