Chatteris Museum
We are delighted to have the museum so close to our College. Built into the History curriculum as children move through the Primary phase are many visits to the museum to find out about the rich local heritage that lies in Chatteris. To find out more about the museum follow http://www.chatterismuseum.org.uk/
Chatteris Museum is a small local museum concentrating on the town itself and the surrounding fenland area.
The museum collection was first started in 1942 as a result of an interest in local history by Mr Charles Dobb, the clerk to the council. Initially his little collection was housed in a small glass cabinet in the old Urban District Council office in Grove House, and the collection continued to grow.
In 1963 a complete room full of display cabinets was officially opened as Chatteris Museum. Eventually the museum took over the middle floor of Grove House and before long there were enough cabinets to fill 4 rooms.
In 1995 the museum moved to what had been the doctors' surgery in Church Lane and it also shared the building with the Chatteris Town Council. In 2023 it moved into the old Barclays Bank building, at 2 Park Street.
The museum is owned and managed by a team of Trustees on behalf of Chatteris residents. It is run on a day to day basis by a dedicated team of volunteers lead by the curator, Ian Mason.
Discover the ancient market town of Chatteris from earliest prehistoric settlement to recent times. Over 600,000 years of human occupation is here to see in dozens of stone tools and grave goods. See replicas of a 3,000 year old Bronze Age shield, spear and rapier (found in a log boat) alongside a 6th century Anglo Saxon glass claw beaker, from 'the grave of a king'. See the Iron Age links with Stonea Camp, Boudicca and the Roman buildings at Langwood Hill. Learn about St Huna of Honey Hill.
There is an amazing display of the records, charters and a seal from the Benedictine abbey built in 980AD. Visitors can also view a wealth of unusual objects including 'bog oak' travelling stocks from 1774, and early 'bone shaker' bicycle and pair of 20' long charity collecting poles. Further exhibits illustrate traditional aspects of fenland life on an island, the waterways and drainage, the railway boom and the wealth of a prosperous 19th century market town. You can use the interactive audio visual units and get your hands on pottery and stained glass puzzles to build an arch.
