St Albans Museums cares for and shares St Albans' stories and artefacts with the world. We manage St Albans Museum + Gallery, Verulamium Museum, the Hypocaust, the medieval Clock Tower, Sopwell Ruins and thousands of objects in the City’s collection.
(18)
Operating as usual
Last chance to buy! 👛💳
We have just a few left of these locally inspired and produced calendars from St Albans Artists' and Ricky Barnett Photography 📅 as well as these pretty tea towels from Hannah Sessions Design 🐦
The best bit? They are all on special offer and can be purchased from the comfort of your own home: https://shop.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/collections/sale
Looking for lockdown family activities? There are still spots available for our Family Recycling collage workshop! Artist Sarah Moroney introduces you to the art of collage with materials available at home - no shopping required.✂️🔵Book your place here: https://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/recycling-collage-workshop-families
Stay in motion ⚙️⚙️⚙️ Join us on February 10 for a talk about Cabaret Mechanical Marvels! You will learn more about the marvels of automata , its story, and its makers. The perfect way to put a little enchantment in your day! Book here: https://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/automata-and-artists
We are looking forward so much to sharing the beautiful colour and shapes of Anna Ray Art's exhibition Fibre and Form. Originally due to open in March, this stunning exhibition will now take place from 26 November 2021 to 18 April 2022. The show features large-scale sculptural pieces created over the past 20 years and includes two newly commissioned works entitled Mesh and Rosette, fabricated during lockdown with funding from Arts Council England. You can find out more on our website and, in the meantime, if you jump over to the UniHerts Arts page you can enjoy seeing Anna’s work in their digital showcase Colour Snap in 2019.
January 27 is #HolocaustMemorialDay as you prepare to #LightTheDarkness at 8pm tonight why not listen to Kitty Hart Moxon talk about Auschwitz in her own words.
Kitty is one of the people in our Portrait of St Albans display and her story will also be part of Arrival & Belonging: Stories from the St Albans Jewish Community exhibition which will be online from 10 March and in person depending on lockdown guidance https://e-sams.org/roots/sams-roots-interview-kitty-hart-moxon-obe/
Kitty has been a member of SAMS since 2006 when she moved to Harpenden from Birmingham to be close to family: her son Peter, his wife Moira and their four sons. Auschwitz survivor and Trustee of the Holocaust Educational Trust, Kitty has travelled throughout the UK, the US and Germany, speaking abou...
What do you know about Roman coins? Let our Curator David Thorold introduce you to the topic of Roman coins, their circulation, their meaning, and what they teach us about the population of Verulamium. 🏛️⛏️ Book here: https://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/roman-coins-verulamium
The romans helped to develop British coinage in the years before the conquest through their trade with tribes in southern Britain and once roman rule was established, coins were used widely across Britain. Curator David Thorold takes a look at some of the coins from the collection found at Verulamiu...
"Many of our towns have their own museums, but few have the rich history of St Albans." 🏺⛏️🏛️ Verulamium Museum is one of the 8 attractions that make Hertfordshire so great! Thank you @Hertslive for mentioning us, we can't wait for our reopening. https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/whats-on/eight-unique-hertfordshire-attractions-cant-4909834
These attractions are part of what makes Hertfordshire so great
Happy Opposite Day! Today's very snowy whereas yesterday was one of the sunniest days this month. Both made us very sad and we're hoping for more rain this end of year. 🌧️ Happy Sunday!
Roman Coins of Verulamium - Online Talk
Curious to know more about some of the coins usually on display at Verulamium Museum? Well now you can from the comfort of your own home! Curator David Thorold shares his knowledge of the collection to demonstrate how coins were used by the Romans as a medium of exchange, means of propaganda and a source of news.
For more details and how to book, visit our website: https://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/roman-coins-verulamium
The romans helped to develop British coinage in the years before the conquest through their trade with tribes in southern Britain and once roman rule was established, coins were used widely across Britain. Curator David Thorold takes a look at some of the coins from the collection found at Verulamiu...
The end of January is in sight!
Don't forget to treat yourself to a locally inspired and produced calendar from St Albans Artists' or Ricky Barnett Photography 📅 or this pretty tea towel designed by Hannah Sessions Design (or one of each!) 🐦
All now on special offer 🎁 and found on our online shop
https://shop.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/collections/sale
(🏃 do hurry as there is limited stock available and they are selling out fast 🏃)
We have a new family online workshop available! This recycling collage session will allow you to use up materials you already have at home, no shopping required. Head to the link to book your place: https://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/recycling-collage-workshop-families
We are planning on adding a new digital display at St Albans Museum + Gallery showing Nic Madge's Pandemic Portraits. These diptychs allow people to share their experience, highlighting the effects of the pandemic on society. https://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/pandemic-portraits
With the news that Harpenden Public Halls is one of the latest places to be offering Covid vaccinations alongside Batchwood Hall in St Albans, we thought it was a good opportunity to share some other stories from its history.
Did you know that shortly after being opened in 1938, the halls were used as a distribution centre for gas masks? And that a year later in September 1939 at the outbreak of war, the halls were used as a reception centre for evacuee children from London? You can find out more here courtesy of our friends at Harpenden & District Local History Society: http://www.harpenden-history.org.uk/page/harpenden_public_halls_1938
We are happy to have been nominated for Best Museum in Hertfordshire by Little Ankle Biters, a Hertforsdhire Family Guide! 🏛️✨ vote for us here: https://herts.ankle-biters.co.uk/little-ankle-biters-herts-awards-nominations-are-open/
Brighten up #bluemonday and treat yourself to a bargain! Recently added to our online sale is this beautiful calendar tea towel by local artist Hannah Sessions Design. We still have 2021 calendars too but they are selling fast - don't miss out! https://shop.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/collections/sale
Good news! 🎉Cabaret Mechanical Marvels, our exhibition about the world of automata company Cabaret Mechanical Theatre, is prolonged until June 27. We will be releasing tickets as soon as we have a reopening date - stay tuned! ⚙️🎨✨
#cabaretmechanicalmarvels
In need of a new lockdown activity? There's still spots available for our automata-making virtual workshop! ⚙️ You will receive your own kit via mail and discover the tricks of mechanical motion. Book here: https://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/workshop-cabaret-mechanical-theatre
Keith Newstead's Baba Yaga's House is a fairy tale-themed automata which features many fantastical details such as a house walking around on mechanical chicken’s legs. The playful and colourful style of the piece belies the slightly menacing undertones as the witch tries to capture the young child.
🍎💀🍄
Keith sadly passed away in December 2020. His distinctive creations, inspired by literary themes, dreams, and daily observations, allow his legacy to live on as the gears turn. ⚙️✨
St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust is now looking to appoint two new trustees to lead their organisation through their next stage of development: an Independent Chair Trustee to lead and manage the Board of Trustees, and a Finance Trustee who will assist with the Trust's resources. These roles are a great opportunity to join a talented Board of Trustees and contribute to the advancement of art and culture in St Albans District.
🏛️🏺⛏️🎨
Founded in 1995, the St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust is a registered charity and a key partner of the St Albans Museums Service. Its work includes supporting the museums and galleries of St Albans by utilising members’ interest and experience, raising funds and promoting the benefits of the city’s rich heritage, arts and culture.
Click here to learn more and apply: https://www.stalbansmuseumsandgalleriestrust.org.uk/st-albans-museums-and-galleries-trust-is-looking-for-two-new-trustees/
Our Museums are closed, but our programme is still going strong! 💪 Discover our many online events, including an automata workshop, an archaeology session, and a panel talk exploring the notion of 'belonging'. Learn more and book here: https://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/whats-on
Looking for a new calendar for 2021 to brighten up your home? Both of these wonderful locally inspired and produced calendars 📅 are now on special offer 🎁 and can be found on our online shop (🏃 do hurry as there is limited stock available 🏃) https://shop.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/collections/sale
Happy Typing Day! ⌨️This everyday activity used to represent fascinating possibilities with the rise of personal computers. This Spectrum ZX81 mini computer was connected to a domestic television set 📺 People could test it at WH Smith on Market Place in 1981! #typingday
Due to the ongoing lockdown restrictions, we had to postpone Rosana Antolí's stunning installation 'Chaos Dancing Cosmos' in the Museum's Assembly Room. We are looking forward to displaying it at a later date, so stay tuned! 〰️➰ #rosanaantolí #chaosdancingcosmos
We are looking for St Albans School of Art alumni to share memories about their time as art students! 🎨 🏫 Submit your written contribution to be published online and used as part of a future exhibition. Follow the link to share your story ✉️📃: https://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/st-albans-school-art
Today's the Epiphany, the day the Kings (or Magi) visited the Christ; the Flight into Egypt also happened after the arrival of the Kings. A good time to introduce the automata version of 'Flight into Egypt' by maker Paul Spooner from our exhibition Cabaret Mechanical Marvels! 🌬️💨🌟☁️ #epiphany
Back in the (home) office! We hope you're all geared up for this week! 💻 🌐 #backtowork #stalbans #2021 #homeoffice
Happy New Year from all our team and staff at St Albans Museums! We are very thankful for your support and looking forward to seeing you again soon ✨🥂🍀 #happynewyear #2021
It's not snowing (yet?) but we thought this beautiful engraving by Hertfordshire engraver & illustrator Frederic Griggs was season-appropriate! ❄️
🖼️: Holiday card from F.L.Griggs to F.G.Kitton reading "With the Season's Greetings".
Our Museum team wishes you a merry Christmas & happy holiday season! 🥳 🥂🎊 #happyholiday #merrychristmas #stalbans #winter #christmas
Just a reminder that although our museums may be closed, you can still explore the history of St Albans on our website. Check out Talking Buildings and learn more about some of our oldest and most interesting buildings with stories to read and listen to http://ow.ly/jnWy50CQLfy
The government has announced Hertfordshire will enter Tier 3 on Saturday. This means our museums will close this evening until further notice.
We look forward to welcoming you back when we can but until then, keep up to date with our newsletter http://ow.ly/5kBb50COpA0
Io Saturnalia! Today marks the first day of the Roman winter festival and to celebrate we've got some festive online activities to keep you occupied this December. Did you know that several of our Christmas traditions (displaying greenery, wearing pointy Santa hats and eating all the food) come from Roman celebrations? Find out more here: http://ow.ly/qtkn50CO1F5
Celebrate the festive period like the Romans did! The Roman festival of Saturnalia was a chance to relax, feast and play games. Many of the traditions we associate with Christmas today have their origins in Saturnalia.
Chaos dancing Cosmos, an installation by Rosana Antolí, is coming soon to St Albans Museum +Gallery! This impressive artwork is set to take over the Assembly Room on January 16. Stay tuned ➰〰️
#RosanaAntoli #installation #sculpture #uharts #StAlbans #EnjoyStAlbans #VisitHerts
Coming soon to the Assembly Room!
We're excited to show you a sneak peek of a must-see installation coming to St Albans Museums in the New Year. Chaos Dancing Cosmos by Rosana Antolí is a stunning work which will take over the historic Assembly Room from 16 January. A wonderful way to start 2021!
http://www.uharts.co.uk/whats-on/2021/spring-summer/rosana-antoli
#RosanaAntoli #installation #sculpture #contemporaryart #contemporarysculpture #installationart #uharts #stalbansmuseumandgallery #gallery #exhibition #art #artsy #fineart #StAlbans #EnjoyStAlbans #VisitHerts
Mugs & prints by @jenroffe, Campfire Gin by #puddingstonedistillery, beautiful St Albans holiday cards and delicate glass baubles are available in our Museum Shop! You can now shop online - order before Friday to be delivered in time for Christmas. 🎁🏛️🎄 https://shop.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/
St Albans Museum + Gallery, Town Hall, St Peter's Street
Saint Albans
AL1 3DH
| Monday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Thursday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Friday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Saturday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Sunday | 14:00 - 17:00 |
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when St Albans Museums posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Send a message to St Albans Museums:
As it's #halfterm this week, we've worked with Laura Ellis Art Sessions to set you an art challenge! We'd like you to create your own magnificent mosaic inspired by the ones we have on display at Verulamium Museum. Find the instructions here https://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/making-mosaics We would love to look at your wonderful creations so please post some photos of your work for us to see! Use the Verulamium mosaics as inspiration to make your own mosaic at home this half term
News from the conservator: it's lovely to be giving the hypocaust its annual clean- some calmness in these strange times. Here's to being able to enjoy it in all its glory very soon.
Are you ready for take-off? To celebrate our Handley Page Exhibition moving online, we are launching our own paper plane competition! Visit our website below for guidelines, plane templates and mini challenges to try at home. Remember to upload a picture or video of your plane’s best flight and let us know how far it flew, using #HandleyPageChallenge to be in with a chance of winning a prize. All ages welcome to take part. Https://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/paper-plane-engineering-online-challenge
An unusual sighting outside Verulamium Museum yesterday evening... #We♥️StMichael's #Sambuka #St Albans Arts Team
Learn more about The Pickling Project, a fascinating new exhibition at St Albans Museum + Gallery showcasing conservation techniques used on our recently rediscovered natural history collection.
Today's #MuseumWeek theme is #SecretsMW 🕵️♀️ Have you heard about our collection of recently rediscovered fluid specimens? Found in a locked cabinet these amazing specimens have undergone urgent conservation ready to be displayed in our upcoming exhibition, The Pickling Project, at St Albans Museum + Gallery. From 25 May, come along and discover weird and wonderful creatures and learn more about how this important collection was saved from the brink.
It's your turn! Visit our new exhibition, Game Plan, on tour from the V&A! 🎲 Explore the history of board games and play to your hearts content. Adults £5, under 18s £2.50, under 5s and Friends of the museum go free! https://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/game-plan-board-games-rediscovered
Did you know that suffragettes learnt jiu-jitsu in their fight for women's rights? Join us at our Museum Late on Thursday to see 'suffrajitsu' in action as Edith Garrud tackles a Metropolitan police officer and learn more about these fearless women! For tickets, please visit: andsoshedid.eventbrite.co.uk
Learn the art of brush lettering with print-maker and lettering artist Jen Roffe - Typography Prints at one of our new workshops or take part in another hands-on session this summer: https://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/by?venue=All&season=121&category=All
We're thrilled to announce some of our very first workshops at the new St Albans Museum + Gallery! As part of our 'First Impressions' season, this half-day workshop with printmaker and lettering artist, Jen Roffe - Typography Prints, is the perfect way to learn a new skill. Come along on Tuesday 19 June, Thursday 5 July or Saturday 7 July, discover the techniques yourself and create your very own piece. Tickets are £45 per person and include all materials and your own beginners brush lettering kit. Book your place here: bit.ly/2rFa9XD
We're saying a fond farewell to one of our fantastic Museum Assistants today... Amy is moving on to support the lucky libraries of Bedfordshire. She's been with the museums for a good few years and always greets our visitors with a smile and a warm welcome. She can often be found 'faceswapping' in the galleries... We'll miss her and wish her all the best!
Our introduction DVD now has subtitles! This has been one of the projects of our Access Group and we are so happy that the DVD (including Sir Mortimer and his natty plus fours!) will now be more accessible to all our visitors
A 360 panorama of a very snowy, beautiful Verulamium Park.
It’s the first day of December, yippee! If you ever wonder what day/month/year it is, maybe you need a calendar? Or a little lie down... May we recommend this gorgeous vintage style 2018 calendar from our Verulamium Museum gift shop, featuring 12 beautiful pictures of iconic St Albans buildings. Here’s a speedy video to show you more. Our St Albans Calendar measures 21cm square and costs £6.99. #Enjoy St Albans
Feeling festive yet? We are! Do come and see us at the St Albans Christmas Market this afternoon in the #Tinseltown Tipi to make your own mini museum Christmas tree! We will be there between 2.30 - 4.30pm, its free!
When you’re visiting Verulamium, don’t forget to have a look in the drawers! Ps. Bonus points if you can find the mummified Roman frog! 🐸
Tomorrow's Family Friday session (27th October) is puppet themed! Come along on 11 -1pm to see our glove, pop up and marionettes puppets then make your own dolphin puppet scene inspired by our mosaics to take home! Drop in, £2.50 per child #families #halfterm #stalbans #crafts #dolphins #puppets
A crew of crafters beavered away this afternoon creating this 3D masterpiece of a Roman kitchen with the fabulous Paper Engineer John O'Leary.... What's your favourite bit? Come along as part of your half-term fun and on Saturday at 5.30pm and 6.30pm don't miss our Shadow Puppets performances as part of Museums at Night for just £4 a ticket. Suitable for ages 6+. More info: www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/
We've had the amazing Paper Engineer and Illustrator John O'Leary helping our visitors make pop-ups of our Roman kitchen today! #paperengineering #popup #romans
How pretty are these new Town Hall silk scarves? The design is based on the architect's drawings from when the Old Town Hall was originally built, dated 1823. If you'd like to buy one they are on sale at Verulamium Museum for £49 and money from their sale goes towards the new museum and gallery and St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust: look good, feel good, do good! #verulamium #verulamiummuseum #stalbansmuseums #stAlbans #TownHallScarf #Enjoy St Albans
While the galleries were quiet our conservator Alison took the opportunity to clean the lid of our Roman lead coffin. Work like this uses relatively simple tools, but it is deceptively detailed and requires patience and attention to detail in order not to cause damage.
[These are now out of stock at the Museum but the Visitor Information Centre in the The Alban Arena had a few left...] After a St Albans inspired Christmas gift? Pop by Verulamium Museum and pick up one of these lovely hand-painted baubles for only £5.50 (including presentation case!) We've also got stocking fillers, jewellery, scarves, mugs, tea towels and of course chocolate coins! #shoplocal Enjoy St Albans [Music by Lee Rosevere, A Ukulele For Christmas (instrumental) under a Creative Commons licence].
Another Hack The Museum object speaking for itself! These objects will be on display in the colonade at Verulamium for the rest of this week if you'd like to experience this amazing conductive ink in person.
Here's one of our Hack The Museum talking objects in action - how cool is this?! Many thanks to everyone who took part in the session yesterday, the next one is next Tuesday (2nd August) if you'd like to book a place: http://www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/hack-the-museum:-maps-339/
How incredible is this drone video of the sunrise over Verulamium Lake by @_photography6 - so beautiful! Bravo 👏🏼 #Repost @_photography6 with @repostapp ・・・ Knowing it was going to be a nice morning, I thought I'd take the #phantom4 to St. Albans to capture sunrise. Still getting used to flying this thing without crashing it! 😂 Footage sped up 4x. #drone #saintalbans #dji #sunrise
Morris dancing live at Verulamium! #StAlbansMuseums
The fish from the Museum of St Albans has been moved to the staff room at Verulamium. It is happy in the new tank donated by Dave the electrician.
South West Herts Model Railway Society
The Lincolnsfield Centre, Bushey