British Schools Museum

08/01/2025

The Museums Object of the Year 2025 Awards are open, showcasing unique objects from museums across the county.

We’re thrilled to enter the nineteenth-century Object Lesson Box, a fascinating precursor to modern science lessons. Inspired by Pestalozzi’s philosophy of learning through experience, these boxes helped children explore the wider world through everyday objects.

From chalk and slate in poorer schools to professionally crafted Object Boxes produced by the Home & Colonial School Society in the 1830s, these tools connected natural materials, household items, and manufacturing processes to bring lessons to life.

Help us celebrate this extraordinary piece of history—vote for the British Schools Museum’s Object Lesson Box!

👉 Cast your vote here: https://www.hertfordshiremuseums.org.uk/object-of-the-year-2025.aspx

07/01/2025

Our SEND Playgroup at the British Schools Museum Café is back up and running after the Christmas break!

Join us every Monday afternoon from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm. This friendly and welcoming playgroup is designed for SEND children aged 0-5 and offers a relaxed, engaging atmosphere where families can feel at home.

There’s no need to book, and entry is free. Please remember that children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

We look forward to welcoming you back and hope to see new faces too.

30/12/2024

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve been shortlisted in the Mum’s Guide to Hitchin Awards 2024 for Best Family Day Out! 🎉

What’s more, our Cafe at The Museum has also been nominated for Most Family-Friendly Café/Restaurant.

A huge thank you to everyone who nominated us—it means so much! 💛

The Mum's guide to Hitchin is an amazing resource for local families to discover fun activities and great spots in the area.

We’d love your support! Please vote for us here: https://www.mumsguideto.co.uk/hitchin/awards.php

Thank you for helping us celebrate family fun in Hitchin! 🌟

16/12/2024

As we wrap up 2024, join us this Friday, 20th December for our last museum public opening of the year.

Last Day Open in 2024: Friday, 20th December

Reopening in 2025: Friday, 14th February

The Play Café will be taking a short break starting from Christmas Eve and will welcome you back on Friday, 3rd January.

Additionally, our café will open for takeaway coffee and cake during the Doorstep Elves show dates on the 28th, 29th, 30th, and 31st December.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year! We look forward to seeing you in 2025.

🎨 Artwork by Katie Hounsome Illustrator

05/12/2024

Our Volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. It was wonderful to be part of this film by Go Vol Herts.

We are proud to announce the release of our heartfelt film celebrating International Volunteers Day on Thursday December 5th, 2024. The film celebrates the transformative power of volunteering, highlighting the stories of local volunteers and offering an intimate look at how giving back through smal...

04/12/2024

Dive into the holiday spirit at Santa's Grotto, organised by Hitchin BID. Open every weekend from now until Christmas, come between 11am to 1pm & 2pm to 4pm to meet Santa in a magical winter wonderland setting. It’s the perfect outing for families seeking a sprinkle of festive cheer!

📍 Location: 30 Market Place, Hitchin SG5 1DY 🕒 Opening Times: 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm

Cost: £4 per child, including a special gift from Santa himself!

🎁 Supporting Local Causes: The British Schools Museum is excited to run the grotto on the 7th & 8th December. All proceeds from this weekend will help keep our museum running. Each weekend supports a different charity.

We can’t wait to see you there!

29/11/2024

🎄✨ Christmas Craft Fair at The British Schools Museum ✨🎄

The halls are being decked and the festive spirit is in the air as we prepare for our annual Christmas Craft Fair this weekend. Join us for a magical experience filled with unique gifts, seasonal treats, and holiday cheer!

🕒 Opening Hours This Weekend:

Friday: 10am - 12pm (last entry at 11am) — We're closing early to set everything up!

Saturday & Sunday: Christmas Craft Fair from 10am - 2:30pm (last entry at 2pm)

26/11/2024

🎄✨ Join Us for Our Annual Christmas Craft Fair This Weekend! ✨🎄

Get into the festive spirit at The British Schools Museum's Christmas Craft Fair! Join us this Saturday, 30th November and Sunday, 1st December from 10am to 2:30pm (last entry at 2pm). Entrance is free of charge.

🛍️ Find unique gifts, enjoy seasonal treats, and soak in the holiday cheer with family and friends. Whether you're looking for handcrafted goods, stocking stuffers, or a delightful way to spend a weekend, our craft fair is the perfect destination.

🕒 Please Note: We will be closing at 12pm this Friday (last entry at 11am) to prepare for the fair.

Mark your calendars and don’t miss this festive gathering. We can't wait to kick off the holiday season with you!

Edit: For any vendor queries, please contact the museum directly.

23/11/2024

Our shop is now stocked with beautiful British Schools Museum Christmas cards and a festive advent calendar, perfect for the holiday season. 🎁🕯️

Pop in and pick up your Christmas essentials while supporting our museum. Every purchase helps us continue sharing the history of education. 📚❤️

23/11/2024

Yesterday, I had the privilege of conducting a photo and video shoot at the British Schools Museum in Hitchin on behalf of North Herts and Stevenage CVS for their Go Vol Herts project.

18/11/2024

New SEND Playgroup at The British Schools Museum Café

Join us every Monday starting next week, 25th November from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm for our specially designed playgroup at the museum café, created for SEND children aged 0-5.

Sensory Play: Tailored activities to support and stimulate sensory development in a fun and engaging way.

Café: Relax and enjoy our café offerings while your children play in a secure and welcoming environment designed for their needs.
Free Entry: No booking necessary! This is a space for SEND children to explore, learn, and grow.

Please ensure children are accompanied by a responsible adult. We are dedicated to providing a supportive and enjoyable experience for SEND children and their families.

18/11/2024

Whilst looking through some Christmas cards in the collection this card in particular caught my eye, a Christmas card illustrated þy Louis Wain! (C.1890-1900?)

Louis Wain (1860-1939) was widely known for his anthropomorphic illustrations of cats, with his first drawing to be published in December 1881. By 1890 he was a household name, and his illustrations were printed as postcards and Christmas cards such as this one. Wain's publisher of choice was Raphael Tuck and Sons, with around 472 postcard designs being attributed to him including this one.

Wain's illustrations of cats popularised their image as they weren't just cats, they were cats doing human things, something we still see in memes and pop culture today. In a biography written about him in 1968, credit was given to him for having an impact on the image of cats so great that the general public had grown to love them more than ever.

- Amber, Collections Volunteer

15/11/2024

Christmas is Coming and we have a few stalls left available for this years Christmas Crafts Fair! For November 30th & December 1st!

If your small business would like to reserve a space this year or would like any more information then contact the enquiries email below! Only a Few Limited Spaces Available!

Contact us at: [email protected]

02/11/2024

Ahhh, how time flies!

It’s our last day of Halloween Crafts and Pumpkin Carving, so do drop in whilst you can! (We can’t keep the spooky spirits here for too long!) Use our website or simply book at the door~.

Otherwise, we do have some leftover pumpkins! If you’re keen to have a shot at carving one at home, please do come in and pick one up - we only ask for a small donation!

🎃

01/11/2024

🎃👻 Halloween May Be Over, But We’re Not Done Yet at The British Schools Museum! 👻🎃

Join us for the final day of Halloween crafts this Saturday—your last chance to dive into festive fun! And don't miss out: although the crafts are wrapping up, our spooky decorations will still be up this Sunday.

Plan Your Visit:

Saturday: Last day for pumpkin carving and spooky crafts. Book now to secure your spot: https://bsmevents.yapsody.com/event/index/824679/halloween-crafts-pumpkins-at-the-british-schools-museum

Sunday: Open to the public from 10 am to 4 pm (last entry 3pm). Enjoy the Halloween decor one last time!

29/10/2024

👻🎃 It’s Time for Halloween Fun at The British Schools Museum! 🎃👻

Even our skeletons are ditching their chores for something a bit more thrilling! Why spend your week stuck at home when you can join us for some spectacular Halloween excitement? Spaces are filling up fast, but we still have a few left!

🎃 Join Us For:

Pumpkin Carving: Bring your creativity to life with our pumpkins!
Spooky Crafts: Unleash your inner artist with crafts that are more fun than fright.
Haunted Headmaster's House: Dare to explore our eeriest exhibit yet!
Curator Tours: Dive deeper into our history with a special guided tour from our knowledgeable Curators.

📅 Limited Spaces Available: Don’t miss your chance! We've got limited slots open for the rest of the week—they’re vanishing faster than a phantom!

Book your spot now: https://bsmevents.yapsody.com/event/index/824679/halloween-crafts-pumpkins-at-the-british-schools-museum

28/10/2024

👻🎃 Sneak Peek with Spoiler Alert: Haunted Headmaster's House 🏚️🎃

Curious to see inside our Haunted Headmaster's House but worried it might be too spooky? We've captured a few eerie moments for you!

⚠️ Spoiler Alert! The images in the following album contain scenes from our Haunted Headmaster's House. If you love surprises, you might want to avoid scrolling through. For everyone else, take a peek—if you dare!