Wisbech & Fenland Museum

31/08/2026

🍇 Grape Expectations, Saturday 26 September

We are delighted to be hosting Alison Crouch of Fascinating food for a cookery demonstration and talk inspired by literature this September as we welcome back the manuscript of ‘Great Expectations’ from its overseas tour.

From Chaucer to Dickens, Jane Austen to F. Scott Fitzgerald, this talk will explore foods, recipes, and drinks with a literary connection. A complimentary glass of wine is included along with delicious food samples to taste.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to view the Dickens’ manuscript, along with other literary treasures cared for by Wisbech and Fenland Museum.

Advance booking is essential for this event.

£20 per person; limited tickets available.

Tickets can be obtained direct from the organiser here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/grape-expectations-tickets-1984893858964

Or via our website: www.wisbechmuseum.org.uk/whats-on

28/08/2026

Did you know Wisbech & Fenland Museum is one of the oldest surviving purpose-built museums in Britain?

But what does “purpose-built” actually mean? Quite simply, our building was designed and built as a museum — and it’s still a museum today.

So, who came before us?

1683 – Old Ashmolean, Oxford; the building now houses the History of Science Museum

(1807 – Hunterian, Glasgow; now demolished)

1829 – Rotunda Museum, Scarborough

1830 – Yorkshire Museum, York

1835 – Saffron Walden Museum, Essex

1843 – Elgin Museum, Scotland

1847 – Wisbech & Fenland Museum

But there’s something that makes Wisbech Museum particularly special…

Of the museums that came before us, all have since undergone significant extensions, alterations, restorations, and refurbishments; Wisbech & Fenland Museum has not.

The original layout and beautiful mahogany-and-glass display cases are still here, helping to preserve a remarkable picture of what an early Victorian museum looked like.

In fact, our surviving interior makes Wisbech & Fenland Museum one of the finest examples of an early Victorian museum in Britain.

Come and experience this unique space for yourself.

Open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm.

27/08/2026

At our family event today, we are exploring some of the more unusual-looking objects in the Townshend collection. What do you think this could be?

26/08/2026

Heritage Open Days 2026

Wisbech & Fenland Museum will be open free of charge on Saturday 12 September in support of this year’s Heritage Open Days Festival.

This is a great opportunity to explore our latest temporary exhibition, ‘Curiosity to Collection: Townshend’s Legacy’ and to view Charles Dickens’ manuscript of ‘Great Expectations.’

A number of other local venues are also taking part in the festival this year, including St. Peter and St. Paul Church, and Peckover House & Garden, National Trust

Wisbech Gallery launch their 2026 Open exhibition on Saturday 12 September too, so it’s a great day to explore Wisbech’s many arts and culture assets completely free-of-charge.

Full details of all venues taking part this year can be found on the Festival website: https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk

22/08/2026

We are delighted to be hosting Alison Crouch of Fascinating food for a cookery demonstration and talk inspired by literature this September as we welcome back the manuscript of ‘Great Expectations’ from its overseas tour.

From Chaucer to Dickens, Jane Austen to F. Scott Fitzgerald, this talk will explore foods, recipes, and drinks with a literary connection. A complimentary glass of wine is included along with delicious food samples to taste.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to view the original manuscript of Dickens’ ‘Great Expectations.’

Advance booking is essential for this event.

Saturday 26 September, 7pm.

£20 per person; limited tickets available.

We are delighted to be hosting Alison Crouch of the Ferry Project Cookery School and Fascinating Food for a cookery demonstration and talk i...

20/08/2026

Great Expectations returns home! 📖✨

After touring South Korea and China as part of the National Portrait Gallery’s exhibition ‘Writers Revealed,’ the original manuscript of Charles Dickens’ ‘Great Expectations’ has returned to Wisbech!

To celebrate its homecoming, the manuscript will be on display for seven consecutive Saturdays, starting this weekend.

Dickens gave the bound manuscript to his close friend, the Reverend Chauncy Hare Townshend, who had family connections to the Wisbech area. Townshend later bequeathed it to Wisbech & Fenland Museum in 1868.

Our current exhibition, ‘Curiosity to Collection,’ explores Townshend’s connections with Wisbech and his important role as one of the Museum’s most significant benefactors.

While on tour, the manuscript was seen by 38,000 visitors at Busan Museum in South Korea and an incredible 1.7 million visitors at Shanghai Museum in China.

Now, after its international adventure, this remarkable piece of literary history is back where it belongs — in Wisbech! ❤️

Come and see Dickens’ handwritten manuscript for yourself over the next seven Saturdays.

Saturday opening hours: 10am to 4pm (last entry 3.30pm)

19/08/2026

📣 Now in stock

‘On this day in Wisbech’ is the latest publication from local author and historian Kevin Rodgers.

An informative and entertaining read, this book highlights events in our town’s history, from the poignant to the ridiculous!

On sale now in the Museum shop priced £5.

Shop opening hours are Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 3.30pm.

18/08/2026

Join us tomorrow as we explore ancient Greece!

👁️ Make an origami cyclops eye
🐍 Craft a Medusa crown
🐂 Take on the Minotaur Challenge
🇬🇷 Taste some staples of modern and ancient Greek food
🕵️ Complete a trail to find the magical objects that helped Perseus in his quest to defeat the gorgon
⭐ Learn how to play the ancient Greek game of Petteia

Activities included with admission.

Ancient Greece

18/08/2026

Fantastic to hear that our event has inspired James to take his interest in chess to a new level 😁

Several of the Monday sessions players were away on holiday yesterday.
This provided an opportunity for Garry to play and coach James a new member. He and his parents took part in the successful chess activities day run by Louise at Wisbech & Fenland Museum .
We look forward to seeing James developing his game during the season and compete in our next junior event.

15/08/2026