The Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery

The Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery We're the community museum for Basingstoke. We host regional and national exhibitions in our gallery. We're part of Hampshire Cultural Trust.
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Volunteer with us: https://tinyurl.com/3tu7bpk8 Basingstoke’s Willis Museum, housed in the Old Town Hall, is in the historic heart of Basingstoke close to Festival Place, the busy town centre. You can discover Basingstoke and Deane’s past, from the rich archaeological heritage beneath our feet right up to the modern day. In the Sainsbury Gallery there is always something new to see with a regularly changing programme of special exhibitions, workshops, talks and events.

Now the kids have gone back to school 🎒 📚️ take a moment for yourself and visit us for a trip down memory lane at 'I Gre...
03/09/2026

Now the kids have gone back to school 🎒 📚️ take a moment for yourself and visit us for a trip down memory lane at 'I Grew Up 90s'.

https://buff.ly/ACTGwT0

Whatever your age during the decade there's bound to be something you see that will take you back in time!📼

What were you up to in the 90s?

Image: Entrance to Basingstoke College of Technology, 1990s © Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Cultural Trust Photograph Collection.

Last week was the 191st anniversary of the birth of Thomas Burberry Did you know the first Burberry shop opened here in ...
02/09/2026

Last week was the 191st anniversary of the birth of Thomas Burberry

Did you know the first Burberry shop opened here in Basingstoke?!

Thomas Burberry moved to Basingstoke and opened a draper's shop 'T. Burberry & Sons' in 1856!

On London Street (next to the Deane's Almes Houses) was a once a showroom that fronted the Basingstoke workshop and Wi******er Street was home to the huge Emporium - which was rebuilt in 1905 after being burnt completely to the ground.

Image: Photograph of the rebuilt Emporium, Wi******er Street.

Discover the history of Ralph Dutton, who gave his house Hinton Ampner, to the National Trust at our September Tea & Tal...
01/09/2026

Discover the history of Ralph Dutton, who gave his house Hinton Ampner, to the National Trust at our September Tea & Talk!

Sunday 27 September - 2PM

£7 per person

BOOK NOW https://buff.ly/l5QKwTQ

We have so many interesting objects in the museum🏛️ and we love sharing our favourites with you BUT we want to know...Wh...
31/08/2026

We have so many interesting objects in the museum🏛️ and we love sharing our favourites with you BUT we want to know...

What is YOUR favourite object at the Willis Museum⁉️

Let us know in the comments⬇️⬇️⬇️

🔦 🔦 OBJECT SPOTLIGHT🔦 🔦Have you seen this silver plate upstairs in the 1900s case? This is John May's Silver Salver, pre...
29/08/2026

🔦 🔦 OBJECT SPOTLIGHT🔦 🔦

Have you seen this silver plate upstairs in the 1900s case?

This is John May's Silver Salver, presented by the borough to John May for in recognition of his gifts to the town on his retirement as Mayor in 1894.

His gifts included the Town Hall Clock Tower and the May's Bounty cricket ground!

He went to to be mayor twice more after this!

You can find the Silver Salver in the Story of Basingstoke display at The Willis Museum and Sainsbury Gallery

📣 OPENING TODAY 📣 The new Arts and Society exhibition 'Art for Wellbeing' opens today in the Basingstoke Community Galle...
29/08/2026

📣 OPENING TODAY 📣

The new Arts and Society exhibition 'Art for Wellbeing' opens today in the Basingstoke Community Gallery!

See a selection of work from students who took part in Art @ The Station as well as the work from several projects with local schools

Find out more here https://buff.ly/7fzKpPx

Join former Willis Museum manager Jenny Stevens for an informative talk on food from the past 🍗 🥣 MEDIEVAL TUDOR FOOD: P...
25/08/2026

Join former Willis Museum manager Jenny Stevens for an informative talk on food from the past 🍗 🥣

MEDIEVAL TUDOR FOOD: POTTAGE & PEACOCKS

Sunday 25 October - 2PM

This talks looks at what people were eating and drinking, how things were changing and dispels a few myths about table manners!

BOOK NOW https://buff.ly/8kNhkc4

📣 TODAY is the LAST CHANCE to catch📣 'Basingstoke in the 90s'We are open 10 - 4 for you to have a final trip down memor...
23/08/2026

📣 TODAY is the LAST CHANCE to catch📣

'Basingstoke in the 90s'

We are open 10 - 4 for you to have a final trip down memory lane to our town in the 1990s!

https://www.hampshireculture.org.uk/event/basingstoke-90s-exhibition

Don't worry - you can still get your retro fix at 'I Grew Up 90s' in the Sainsbury Gallery until Sunday 1 Nov 2026!

Image: © Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Cultural Trust Photograph Collection.

Address

Market Place
Basingstoke
RG217QD

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+441256465902

Website

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