What are the opening hours?

Tuesday 10am - 4:30pm Wednesday 10am - 4:30pm Thursday 10am - 4:30pm Friday 10am - 4:30pm Saturday 11am - 4:30pm Sunday 11am - 4:30pm

The Museum in the Park

Name: The Museum in the Park
Address: The Museum in the Park, Stratford Park, Stroud, GL54AF, GB
Telephone: 01453 763394

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The Museum in the Park

This is Museum in the Park's official page. The page/account is not monitored all the time! Entrance is free but donations are encouraged.

The Museum in the Park is set in Stratford Park in the centre of Stroud, Gloucestershire. The Museum is housed on two floors in a Grade II 17th century wool merchant's mansion. Objects and colourful displays combined with exciting events combine to celebrate the rich history and heritage of the Stroud District. The modern extension houses temporary exhibitions and visitor facilities. We welcome fa

milies and children with something to offer visitors of all ages. Whether you are visiting the District or have lived here for many years, you are sure to find something that interests, inspires or amazes you. We also offer a small gift shop and café within the museum foyer.

30/08/2026

🌿 Park Life Exhibition Closing Party 🌿

Monday 31st August, 2pm – 4pm
(drop-in, donations welcome)

Last chance to see! Drop in and join the artists for a last look at ‘Park Life’, swap stories about your summer and enjoy drinks in the Gallery.

Free, donations welcome.

28/08/2026

‘The King’s Mother’: Jo Durrant in conversation with Annie Garthwaite

Saturday 29th August 2026
2pm - 3pm

The 15th century Wars of the Roses were among England’s most bitter civil conflicts, which saw the houses of York and Lancaster fight bloodily for the crown. The wars divided both the nation and its most powerful families, setting brother against brother, cousin against cousin.

But who were the women at the heart of the conflict? And what was their role? Greatest among them was Cecily Neville. For the final event in the 2026 Our Beautiful Universe series, Annie joins Jo Durrant to shine a spotlight on an incredible figure – mother, fighter, survivor.

Book via our website or call 01453 763394.

Tickets £7.50 / £6 / £5 Museum Members - Membership is free to join

Both of Annie Garthwaite's books will be available to buy at this event.

The conversation will be followed by a chance to ask questions and chat over tea and coffee if you wish, or explore the museum and walled garden.

26/08/2026

🐝Buzz Club 🐝

Sunday 30th August 2026
11:30am - 1pm

Join as we explore what’s happening in the Walled Garden and our bee hive, and come on a nature observation walk at 12 noon.

Back at Buzz Club we’ll record our discoveries in our Year in the Walled Garden diary through drawings, observations and our own nature notes.

All welcome, for children and adults, free entry, donations welcome.

24/08/2026

Park Life - Upcoming Events

It's the final week of our exhibition, Park Life and there is plenty going on this weekend!

Saturday 29 August, 1pm – 4pm (£35, booking required):
Treescapes: Oil Pastel Workshop

🌳unleash your creativity in a treescape oil pastel workshop with Rose-Marie MJ.
🍃 learn key oil pastel techniques and experiment with textures and colours to craft vibrant, luminous trees
🌿 perfect for all levels with materials provided, you’ll receive a hands-on demonstration, personal guidance by Rose and will be part of a relaxed, inspiring atmosphere
🍃 walk away with a finished piece and new techniques to keep exploring nature in colour.
For adults. Booking required - book via our website: https://buff.ly/v5mOfDN or call 01453 763394.

Sunday 30 August, 1pm - 2pm (free, no need to book):
Talk by Adrian Oldman: Stratford Park Trees

Adrian Oldman witnessed the campaign to save Stratford Park trees in 1988 to 1990. He will tell you the story about a community which came together to protect nature.
Free, no need to book, donations welcome.

Sunday 30 August, 2pm – 4pm (drop-in, donations welcome):
Lino Printing Family Drop-in Workshop

Join Jo Howe and Wedad for some lino printing magic. A family workshop, with space for up to 10 children at a time – please ask at Reception when you visit.

For more information, visit: https://buff.ly/v5mOfDN

20/08/2026

Reception of Brian Hayward's 'Gaarge Ridler' Cider Jar

We recently held a reception to mark the donation to the museum of a cider jar made by folk-potter Peter Currell Brown. It seemed fitting to mark the occasion by singing the song on the jar in our broadest Gloucestershire accents and to raise a glass to both its maker and its owner.

A big thank you to Richard Chidlaw and the musicians from the Waterley Bottoms Mummers who accompanied us – and taught us the eye-opening lyrics to The Dursley Mummers song aswell. Thanks also to Rex, Charlie and Alex for bringing along your own Peter Currell Brown ‘head mugs’, which we all enjoyed seeing.
The jar is now on show in our Recent Acquisitions display
(see: https://buff.ly/usrlOPk) until 13 September – come and find out more about this piece and the strange Gloucestershire folk song recorded on it.

About Dr Brian J. Hayward (1934 - 2026), who kindly bequeathed the Cider Jar:

Brian Hayward was Head of English at Katharine Lady Berkeley's Grammar School from 1962 to 1971. He encouraged the creation of the Waterley Bottoms Mummers in 1969, and was a folklore enthusiast. When he and his family left for Glasgow, a musical party was held in Dursley for friends from the school. 'Gaarge Ridler's Ov'n' was sung and Brian sang his own creation: 'The Dursley Mummers'. Brian was presented with a cider jar made by Peter Currell Brown (then known as Potter Brown), with details of the song of the Gaarge Ridler's Ov'n. The opening 'Thaay Stwunds' is around the neck of the jar and four of the verses enclose a picture of Gaarge Ridler and his dog.

About Peter Currell Brown, who made the Cider Jar:

Peter Currell Brown's ethos was to create something distinctly local and traditional, inspired by folklore and songs, and influenced by the designs of Toby jugs, old frog mugs and puzzle mugs. Before he became an artist, he wrote a surrealist novel entitled 'Smallcreep's Day' (1965). He also worked at Lister’s factory in Dursley and for Peter Scott at Slimbridge. In 1966 he set up a craft pottery he called Snake Pottery in Cam.

17/08/2026

Museum in the Park Membership

Did you know that Museum in the Park membership is completely free? It’s also really easy to join and is great for everyone, whatever their level of interest, whether they want to get involved in-person or online.

Find out more and sign up here: https://buff.ly/xWcQVw3

14/08/2026

Dinosaur Naming Competition

Thank you to everyone who got involved with our dinosaur naming competition, we loved reading your roarsome suggestions!

We're excited to announce that we have chosen the name
🎉 Meg the Stroudosaurus 🎉 as our winner

Judges Christina Dodwell (who made the model) and curator Zoë Wilcox liked the fact that our winner has invented a Stroud-specific genus of dinosaur.

‘We also loved that Meg’s name references the Megalosaurus that inspired Christina when she was making the model. Come along to our Geology gallery in the museum to see Meg in her new home alongside real Megalosaurus, Stegosaur and Cetiosaurus bones from the local area!’

The name was inspired by several of our visitors' suggestions and we will be in touch with our winner and runners up soon.

Thanks again to everyone who took part in the competition!

13/08/2026

Summer Holidays

The summer holidays are well underway... here's a snapshot of what visitors have been enjoying as part of our programme, so far...

🔎 our free Explorer trails
🛡️ Roman Day and Saxon Day
🌟 card printing with Tracy Spiers
🦋 creating butterflies with Stroud Valleys Project
🎨 sessions such as 'Finding Out about Fossils' and 'Amazing Artists' with our Learning Officer
🧺 Big Summer Picnics with Active Lifestyles Stroud

There's still lots to join in with, and most of our activities are free or low cost.

To find out more, visit our website: museuminthepark.org.uk
or call us: 01453 763394
We also have a Summer Holidays leaflet at Front Desk, subject to availability.

11/08/2026

Don't miss our gallery exhibition!

Park Life - An Exhibition by Stroud Artists' Cooperative

1st - 31st August 2026

The Stroud Artists Cooperative was set up in 2021 and its first event was the outdoor Stroud Art Fair with over 40 artists participating. Its aim is to provide an inclusive forum for local artists to support each other, learn from each other, provide opportunities and generally work collaboratively with members and other local bodies to promote art and artists in Stroud.

The Cooperative is run on a volunteer basis and now has 180 members. ‘Park Life’ will be the culmination of a year long project looking at and capturing aspects of life and activities in our local parks, including the much-loved grounds of Stratford Park.

The exhibition will be accompanied by workshops, demos and meet the artist sessions - for more information, see the museum website: https://buff.ly/BfFXwwP

Admission free, donations welcome, works for sale.

09/08/2026

‘The King’s Mother’: Jo Durrant in conversation with Annie Garthwaite

Saturday 29th August 2026
2pm - 3pm

The 15th century Wars of the Roses were among England’s most bitter civil conflicts, which saw the houses of York and Lancaster fight bloodily for the crown. The wars divided both the nation and its most powerful families, setting brother against brother, cousin against cousin.

But who were the women at the heart of the conflict? And what was their role? Greatest among them was Cecily Neville. For the final event in the 2026 Our Beautiful Universe series, Annie joins Jo Durrant to shine a spotlight on an incredible figure – mother, fighter, survivor.

Book online: https://buff.ly/CiaB3qw or call 01453 763394.

Tickets £7.50 / £6 / £5 Museum Members - Membership is free to join

The conversation will be followed by a chance to ask questions and chat over tea and coffee if you wish, or explore the museum and walled garden.

Address

The Museum In The Park, Stratford Park
Stroud
GL54AF

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	10am - 4:30pm
Thursday	10am - 4:30pm
Friday	10am - 4:30pm
Saturday	11am - 4:30pm
Sunday	11am - 4:30pm

Telephone

01453 763394

Website

http://www.museuminthepark.org.uk/

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