Redbourn Village Museum

Redbourn Village Museum Local History of Redbourn Village There is a display about Dr. Henry Stephens, inventor of the first free flowing ink.

The Redbourn Experience explains the history of a Hertfordshire Village through the centuries through local finds and in pictures, maps and objects. The exhibitions are housed in a small house which was the home of the manager of a former Silk Mill, later becoming one of the largest tea and coffee packing factories in the country. Medieval stones from Redbourn Priory and items from the Stone Age t

o the 19th Century can be seen in the Priory Room whilst in the Occupations Room, the visitor is able to see the amazing wealth of employment that this small village has been able to provide throughout its history. Many people of Redbourn were straw plaiters and found work in the hat factory, silk mill, jam factory and subsequently the Brooke Bond tea-packing plant.

Don't miss Mr Heather's film of the 1949 outing to Southend showing after a talk on the History of Holidays by invited s...
02/06/2026

Don't miss Mr Heather's film of the 1949 outing to Southend showing after a talk on the History of Holidays by invited speaker, Nick Dobson. A light-hearted, illustrated look at holidays from the Middle Ages until today. Booking details on poster - we would love to see you there. Hi di Hi!

Reserve a place on our outing to Kent in July. We are limited to a smaller coach due to the country lanes in Kent, so b...
30/05/2026

Reserve a place on our outing to Kent in July. We are limited to a smaller coach due to the country lanes in Kent, so book early!

Tickets are on sale now for our next event - see details below.
30/05/2026

Tickets are on sale now for our next event - see details below.

Beating the BoundsThis Sunday 10th May is the annual ceremony of Beating the Bounds, a tradition which has been practice...
05/05/2026

Beating the Bounds

This Sunday 10th May is the annual ceremony of Beating the Bounds, a tradition which has been practiced since at least Anglo-Saxon times as it is mentioned in law passed by Alfred the Great in the 9th Century. And its possibly one of the last times that the parish boundary will pass entirely through open countryside, as housing development is proposed for most of the western side.

Before modern maps it was important to ensure that every Parish knew the landmarks marking their boundary, and that other Parishes were not taking over land they had no right to. Therefore the community would gather together to walk then entire boundary, before concluding events with a "Parish Ale" - a feast involving the consumption of much ale. Part of the tradition includes making the landmarks more memorable for young people, originally by beating them at such locations, but more recently by giving them the "bumps".

Redbourn is a relatively large Parish, with a boundary of around 16 miles, so the entire event takes around 8 hours but participants may choose to just do part of it each year.

St. George's flag flying at the museum (slightly ahead of) St. Georges Day on Thursday 23rd April.
22/04/2026

St. George's flag flying at the museum (slightly ahead of) St. Georges Day on Thursday 23rd April.

Redbourn from aboveTaken around 1949, looking north up the High Street towards Markyate, this photo shows the High Stree...
15/04/2026

Redbourn from above

Taken around 1949, looking north up the High Street towards Markyate, this photo shows the High Street and surrounding area as it was after World War 2. Some areas of interest are:

A - Redbourn House, nearly derelict by this time it was demolished in the early 60s and is now Gertrude Peake Place
B - Redbourn Railway Station was still operational
C - the watercress beds were no longer being farmed
D - the Tennis Club had two courts on Greyhound Meadow (and are still there)
E- the War Memorial

The Hollybush, Church EndOne of the oldest pubs in Redbourn, parts of the Hollybush date back to the 16th century and th...
03/03/2026

The Hollybush, Church End

One of the oldest pubs in Redbourn, parts of the Hollybush date back to the 16th century and the earliest written reference to it is from 1591 when it was known as the "Hollibushe". There is a reference to it previously being known as "The Talbott", possibly after the first Earl of Shrewsbury who was a notable military leader in the early 15th Century.

In 1758 there was a hop garden at the rear of the pub and in the middle of the 19th century the "Old Schoolroom" was built to provide a basic education for children in the area - it is now used as a function room. In the photo from 1920 it can clearly be seen, as can the old stable block extending from the rear of the main building. In 1948 the old stables and yard were occupied by Sidney Statham as the original location for his garage and motor repair business.

The Hollybush was taken over in 2003 by the Brakspear brewery who carried out some major modernisation work, moving the toilets indoors and installing a proper kitchen. The old toilet building can still be seen next to the Schoolroom, it now houses the beer cellar.

20/02/2026

We have received a request for information about Violet Hewer. Details below. Any help you can give will be gratefully received.

I am researching family history for Violet Hewer.

She farmed Jersey cows and we think she sold Pedigree Jersey Cows to Winston Churchill.

She also farmed chickens and sold produce at the local market.

She grazed cattle on the common.

The family story goes that she got paid to have earth dumped on her farm and got paid. She then told the farm owner she had to pay for it and wanted compensation! I assume this was when the M1 was built in 1959.

Her address when she applied for a water consent in 1970 was Hemel Hemstead Road, Redbourn.

She died in 1972, aged 67.

The Myth of Sticky Joe's benchA popular story often repeated in news articles and other stories about Redbourn states th...
10/02/2026

The Myth of Sticky Joe's bench

A popular story often repeated in news articles and other stories about Redbourn states that in 2003 a group of school children successfully lobbied for a bench in memory of "Sticky Joe", who drowned in a vat of jam at a local factory. Redbourn Parish Council have no record of this bench, and the entire story can be traced back to a late night Wikipedia edit by an unknown Redbourner in 2009.

The photo shows that Russell Harborough's jam factory did have vats for boiling the jam, but no record has been found of anyone "drowning" in one of them. The Brooke Bond factory was also used for making boiled sweets in the late 1950s, but no one can recall a serious accident there.

Our first exhibition for 2026 is now complete. Please come along and see it, you will be assured of a warm welcome from ...
07/02/2026

Our first exhibition for 2026 is now complete. Please come along and see it, you will be assured of a warm welcome from our voluntary stewards. We are open at weekends from 2:00pm until 5:00pm with last admission at 4:30pm.

Address

Silk Mill House, The Common
Redbourn
AL37NB

Telephone

01582 793397

Website

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