Museum celebrates 100 years at heart of Haslemere

Haslemere Museum has celebrated 100 years at its High Street home with a special birthday party – held on the exact day it moved into the building a century ago.

Supporters, well-wishers and visitors gathered at the museum to mark the milestone.

August 27, 1926 was the day Haslemere Museum moved into its present home, beginning a century-long chapter in the town's history.

A century later, visitors were invited to help decorate flags for strings of bunting in the museum gardens, while games were held throughout the afternoon.

There was also a birthday cake, sponsored and cut by estate agents Seymours, with complimentary pieces handed out to visitors.

Haslemere Mayor Jacquie Keen joined the celebrations and drew a raffle.

The museum also announced the winners of its August Photo Trail, sponsored by Marley Flowers.

The trail encouraged families to explore Haslemere in search of historic photographs displayed in shops and businesses around the town. The images showed what the town looked like around 100 years ago – offering a glimpse of Haslemere at around the time the museum was establishing itself in its new home.

Founded in 1888, Haslemere Museum has grown into an important cultural and educational resource for the town, with a collection of around 380,000 objects covering natural history, geology, archaeology, local history and ethnography.

Importantly, the museum remains completely free to visit, helping make its collections and activities accessible to the whole community.

That accessibility is part of what makes its centenary such a significant milestone for Haslemere, with the museum having welcomed generations of residents, schoolchildren, families and visitors through its doors.

Museum Education Officer Kay Topping said: “It was a very pleasant afternoon enjoyed by staff, supporters of the Museum and visitors.”