Maidenhead Heritage Centre

Maidenhead Heritage Centre stands in Park Street, a quiet street in the centre of Maidenhead. The building houses a museum founded in 1993 to show the town’s past from Roman times to today. Local artefacts, photographs, documents and sound recordings are kept here to bring history to life. The Maidenhead Archaeological & Historical Society, set up in the 1960s, works with the centre on research and displays. In 2006 the centre moved into its present home after years of temporary sites. The centre’s exhibitions include a permanent display about the Air Transport Auxiliary, the wartime organisation based at White Waltham Airfield. Special shows are mounted regularly, such as one in 2007 marking the 230th anniversary of Maidenhead Bridge, the main road bridge east of the town. These displays draw on the centre’s growing collection of objects and records. In 2009 the museum gained official accreditation from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. Visitors find a single-storey space arranged for easy browsing. The permanent Air Transport Auxiliary exhibition uses uniforms, photographs and documents to explain the unit’s work. Temporary displays change every few months, often focusing on a local theme or anniversary. The centre’s small library holds books and files for anyone wanting deeper detail. Outside, Park Street offers cafés and shops within a short walk.