East Surrey Museum

East Surrey Museum The museum is housed in an attractive Victorian flint and tiled building. The collection covers local history, archaeology, and geology. Admission is free.

The museum covers Tandridge together with parts of Reigate and Banstead and the London Borough of Croydon. We currently have special displays on The Guards Depot at Caterham, local Stone Age flint axes and tools, Magic Lanterns and the history of recorded sound. Our permanent displays, in the East Surrey Room, explain the geology, archaeology and history of the area with many local fossils and art

efacts including Medieval pottery, and implements from the Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age. The Children’s Room is loved by children (and adults!) of all ages. It contains toys and artefacts (such as fossils, typewriters and costumes), that may be handled and “experienced”. The room has two huge wallcharts which track the history of toys and the important inventions of the 20th Century. We have a very extensive and important collection of postcards of scenes from local villages, and a collection of local maps going back to the 18th century. The museum shop carries local history books and gifts and all profits are used to support the museum. It is one of the few places where you can buy the Bourne Society’s “Village History” publications, as well as past copies of Local History Records. Importantly, the museum provides a number of services to the community. Group visits to the museum by local organisations, schools, U3A, scouting groups, etc. are very welcome; accompanying talks about the displays can be provided on request. These visits can be arranged outside usual opening times. We also visit schools, care homes and hospitals to give talks (e.g., on National Curriculum subjects) or show artefacts (e.g., from WW2). “Loan boxes”, tailored to the National Curriculum, are available on request. Please contact us about these services via email. All museum rooms are accessible via a ramp; unfortunately we don't have disabled parking. The museum is wholly run by volunteers and donations are welcome. Free parking for a limited time is available at Church Walk Shopping Centre, which is 5 minutes walk from the museum www.churchwalkcaterham.com We are in the centre of Caterham, only about 60 yards from the station, local bus services and taxi rank, and we are in Transport for London zone 6.

All set up at Warlingham Fair today! Come and find out all about the museum and how you can get involved. We also have l...
20/06/2026

All set up at Warlingham Fair today! Come and find out all about the museum and how you can get involved. We also have lots of items from our shop - East Surrey mugs, bags and tea towels, mounted prints by the Urban Countryman, East Surrey Bees Honey, Bourne Society Village History Books and pocket money toys for the younger ones! Come along and say hello!

Your finds from our Children's Archaeological Dig are now on display at East Surrey Museum! Thank you to everyone who to...
18/06/2026

Your finds from our Children's Archaeological Dig are now on display at East Surrey Museum! Thank you to everyone who took part. Stop by the Museum to get a closer look at what was uncovered 👏

Our brand new door has officially been opened! We recently welcomed Tony Pearce (County Councillor for Caterham Valley) ...
16/06/2026

Our brand new door has officially been opened!

We recently welcomed Tony Pearce (County Councillor for Caterham Valley) to cut the ribbon and Jeffrey Grey (former County Councillor for Caterham Valley), pictured here with our Chairman, Mark Wiles.

You’ll see the door on your next visit to the Museum. We’re open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in Caterham Valley.

Thank you to the students at Hamsey Green School, who sent us this very kind thank you note after using one of our handl...
14/06/2026

Thank you to the students at Hamsey Green School, who sent us this very kind thank you note after using one of our handling boxes last month!

One of our core aims as a local museum is to share our artefacts, photos and stories with the wider community. To do this, we regularly lend handling boxes to local schools, youth groups and residents at care or nursing homes - full of original and replica objects that help people connect to the past. It's always special to hear how much they've enjoyed it!

Another lovely group of ladies took part in our second craft workshop today - everyone went home with a pretty greetings...
13/06/2026

Another lovely group of ladies took part in our second craft workshop today - everyone went home with a pretty greetings card to send to someone special!

We'll be taking a summer break, but watch out for details of our Autumn workshop in October 🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂

Due to the heavy wind and rain, we’ve unfortunately had to cancel today’s Children’s Archaeological Dig. Tomorrow (Sunda...
06/06/2026

Due to the heavy wind and rain, we’ve unfortunately had to cancel today’s Children’s Archaeological Dig. Tomorrow (Sunday 7 June) will still be going ahead, and we’ll be back at Whyteleafe Park then with our metal detector to see what items we can unearth.

In June, our popular Children’s Archaeological Dig returns to Whyteleafe Park!

Try out metal detecting equipment and learn from an expert, as we hunt for treasure on Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 June, 10am - 4pm.

The event is free and open to all, with all equipment supplied. In past years, we’ve uncovered coins, pottery, and even a 16th century button from the Tudor period!

Add the dates to your diary and come along to see what items you can unearth… 👀

This weekend, our free Children’s Archaeological Dig is back! We hope to see you at Whyteleafe Park on Saturday 6 & Sund...
04/06/2026

This weekend, our free Children’s Archaeological Dig is back! We hope to see you at Whyteleafe Park on Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 June, 10am - 4pm each day, for a weekend of hunting for treasure. No booking required. Try out metal detecting and see what items you uncover…

In June, our popular Children’s Archaeological Dig returns to Whyteleafe Park!

Try out metal detecting equipment and learn from an expert, as we hunt for treasure on Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 June, 10am - 4pm.

The event is free and open to all, with all equipment supplied. In past years, we’ve uncovered coins, pottery, and even a 16th century button from the Tudor period!

Add the dates to your diary and come along to see what items you can unearth… 👀

01/06/2026

UPDATE! We have has a last minute cancellation for today's workshop - please email [email protected] if you would like to come along.

13.00 - 15.30 - all materials and refreshments included £8.

Explore all the many things that can be made with Suffolk Puffs and make a pretty greetings card. Please email [email protected] to book and for further details.

Our newest display celebrates Hilary Page, born in Sanderstead in 1904, and Kiddicraft - which originated the now-famous...
31/05/2026

Our newest display celebrates Hilary Page, born in Sanderstead in 1904, and Kiddicraft - which originated the now-famous LEGO brick!

Page and his partners established the toy shop Kiddicraft in 1932 on Godstone Road, Purley. Starting by selling wooden toys, Page soon sought a safer, more hygienic alternative. In 1936, he began using injection moulding hard plastics to make ‘Sensible Toys’ like this Kiddiclock, made at their factory in Kenley.

This led to the creation of the Self-Locking Building Block, which could be stacked on top of other blocks and were held in place with studs on top.

The idea was patented by Page in 1947, and he started to market it. Notably, a Danish carpenter, Ole Kirk Christiansen, saw the plastic block and, with his son Gottfried, was inspired to try a similar idea for his company LEGO.

Page died in 1957, and in 1981, LEGO bought the rights to Kiddicraft’s blocks and the trademark from Page’s descendants. Today, LEGO acknowledges Page’s Self-Locking Building Block as the origin behind the LEGO brick.

Address

1 Stafford Road
Caterham
CR36JG

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10:30am - 4pm

Telephone

+441883340275

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