Ware Museum

17/10/2026

Lovely to welcome Josh Dean MP to Ware Museum this afternoon for our 40th anniversary celebrations. Thank you for the kind words about our volunteers and the role the museum plays in preserving Ware’s history for the community. 🎉

Over four decades, Ware’s history has been thoughtfully preserved by local people, for local people, and it was great to be at the museum’s 40th anniversary celebration this afternoon.

I’m very grateful to have been invited to say a few words to thank the many hardworking volunteers and the team for their enormous contribution to our community.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us this afternoon! 🎉

17/10/2026

🎉 New Exhibition

Ware Museum at 40, People and Place Part 2: 2006–2026

Our new exhibition celebrates the people, places and stories that have helped shape Ware Museum over the past 20 years.

From the return of the Great Bed of Ware, to some of the wonderful and unusual objects donated by local people, the exhibition is full of stories that reflect the life of our town and its community.

We’re especially grateful to Ware Men’s Shed for creating our brilliant replica Great Bed for the exhibition. ❤️

Come along, take a look, and help us celebrate 40 years of Ware Museum and the community at the heart of it.

17/10/2026

Due to a private event, the museum will close early today, Saturday 17th, at 2PM. We will be open again at the usual times from Sunday. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

The Ware Museum Team

14/10/2026

🎉 As part of Ware Museum’s 40th birthday celebrations, we’ve been sharing some of our volunteer’s favourite objects from the collection.

This week marks the final post in the series, as we get ready to launch our latest temporary exhibition, Ware Museum at 40: Stories of People and Place Part 2. The exhibition explores the development of the Museum from 2006–2026, so expect to see plenty about the Great Bed of Ware!

For our final object, Museum Manager Francesca has chosen the medieval pilgrim’s badge:

"My favourite object is the medieval pilgrim’s badge. It was found on farmland at Wadesmill, following the old route of the Walsingham Way pilgrimage between London and Walsingham Priory, Norfolk.

This cheap souvenir is a rare tangible remnant of the thriving economy of medieval Ware, which made its money from providing board and lodging for pilgrims. Soon enough, after King Edward VI cancelled the pilgrimages, this economic model that supported the town would collapse."

🏛️ You can see the pilgrim badge on display at Ware Museum.

08/10/2026

*** Postponed ***

🛏️ How much do you really know about Ware’s most famous bed?

Join local historian, John Wing, for a fascinating Great Bed of Ware Walking Tour on Sunday 18 October at 2pm.

Starting at Ware Museum, this 90-minute guided walk will explore the remarkable story of the Great Bed of Ware, following its journey between the inns of the High Street and uncovering the stories, characters and places that bring its extraordinary history to life.

🚶 Gentle pace
👟 Comfortable footwear recommended
👥 Maximum 15 participants
🔞 Suitable for ages 12+
🎟️ £7.50 per person, advance booking required
📍 Starts at Ware Museum at 2pm

01/10/2026

A huge thank you to Ware Festival for this incredibly generous donation of £2,250 to the Museum! 💙

We’re so grateful to everyone involved in making this year’s festival such a success, and for choosing to support the museum and the work we do to preserve and share Ware’s fascinating history and heritage.

We’re very proud to be part of such a fantastic community! 🎉

30/09/2026

🎉 As part of Ware Museum’s 40th birthday celebrations, every fortnight we’ll be sharing a favourite object from our collection, each chosen by one of our volunteers. It’s a chance to discover some of the objects and stories that have made the museum what it is today.

This week’s choice comes from Hannah:
“When I first visited Ware Museum, this Ventolin inhaler immediately caught my attention. I’ve used one for as long as I can remember, but I had never considered where it came from.

Its active ingredient, Salbutamol, was developed in Ware in 1966. Learning that something so familiar, and life-changing for millions of people with asthma, was created here gave me gave me a different perspective on the town’s history and its contribution to everyday life.”

🏛️ You can see the inhaler in our latest exhibition ‘Ware Museum at 40: Stories of People and Place’.

16/09/2026

🎉 As part of Ware Museum’s 40th birthday celebrations, every fortnight we’ll be sharing a favourite object from our collection, each chosen by one of our volunteers. It’s a chance to discover some of the objects and stories that have made the museum what it is today.

This week’s choice comes from Rob:

"I think my favourite exhibit is actually the well. Partly because of the almost accidental nature of its finding but also the insight it gives into the changing social history of the area. A close second choice would be the horse and rider brooch in the Roman small finds case."

🏛️ You can see the well (and the horse and rider brooch!) in our latest exhibition ‘Ware Museum at 40: Stories of People and Place’.

09/09/2026

🏛️ 2026 Heritage Open Days at Ware Museum!

Join us for the 2026 Heritage Open Days this weekend, 12–13 September, and next weekend, 19–20 September!

As well as exploring our latest exhibition, Ware Museum at 40: Stories of People and Place, you can also try your hand at brass rubbing!

⚔️ Choose from knights
🐾 Discover animals
🦖 And even dinosaurs!

Brass rubbing is FREE and there’s no need to book, simply drop in during our museum opening hours.

Come along, explore our local heritage and have a go at creating your own brass rubbing!

We look forward to welcoming you! 💙

02/09/2026

🎉 As part of Ware Museum’s 40th birthday celebrations, every fortnight we’ll be sharing a favourite object from our collection, each chosen by one of our volunteers. It’s a chance to discover some of the objects and stories that have made the museum what it is today.

This week’s choice comes from Diana:

"My favourite object is the Roman Quern Stone made of Hertfordshire Puddingstone. Sadly, the Roman slaves who made it would have had a very short life because the matrix (silica) was not good for the lungs. But it is beautifully made. It was found on a local rockery."

🏛️ You can see the Quern Stone in our latest exhibition ‘Ware Museum at 40: Stories of People and Place’.