Guildford Museum

Guildford Museum stands on Quarry Street in the old town centre, beside the 11th-century St Mary’s Church. Its main building is the former Castle Arch, the gatehouse of Guildford Castle, with later extensions added in 1911 and 1927. The site includes a row of cottages that once housed the castle’s gatekeepers. The museum is run by Guildford Borough Council and works closely with the Surrey Archaeological Society. It also manages several nearby historic sites, including the castle’s undercroft and a Victorian schoolroom. The museum’s collections began in 1854 with the Surrey Archaeological Society, which gathered objects from digs and donations across Surrey. Highlights include Romano-British sceptre handles from Wanborough, a Mesolithic hand-axe collection from Farnham, and the Reigate hoard of medieval coins. The local history section holds Gertrude Jekyll’s donated objects and a World War I Zeppelin bomb fragment. A specialist needlework collection features 18th-century samplers and Surrey smocks worn by farm labourers. The art collection includes works by Guildford-born painter John Russell. Visitors find four main galleries: archaeology, local history, needlework and art. Temporary exhibitions change regularly, often curated by local figures like Anne Milton MP. Outside, the castle grounds offer quiet walks and views over the town. The Victorian schoolroom next door lets groups step back into 19th-century lessons. Staff also identify finds brought in by the public and lend handling boxes to schools.