MUSEUM

Whittlesey Museum, housed on the ground floor of the 19th Century Town Hall in Market Street, was opened in 1976.  

The Costumes Room was once used to house the town's horse drawn fire engine.  Other rooms in the museum are formed from what was once the brick floored caretaker's cottage.  They lend themselves to static displays such as our current scene of a Village Post Office set in the 1950's.  Other displays include brick-making, toys from the turn of the century, local archaeological finds, information on local commemoratives and Sir Harry Smith.  

Outside in the museum's courtyard can be found a forge and wheelwright's bench, wash day artefacts and agricultural tools.  

A life size model of the Straw Bear and an extensive collection of old photographs displaying Whittlesey scenes from the past can also be found.  

Maureen Watson
 

The museum is run by volunteers working on behalf of the Whittlesey Society

Three wonderful books celebrating the Millennium are available from Whittlesey Museum, published on behalf of the Whittlesey Society. 
They are:

 "Millenium Memories of Whittlesey"

"One Hundred Millennium Facts of Whittlesey"

"Millennium Memories of Whittlesey Number 2"

BUY THEM SOON TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT.  THEY ARE SELLING LIKE HOT CAKES.

Whittlesey's most famous son was Sir Harry George Wakelyn Smith, 1787-1860, a British general who servedin the Peninsula War, the war of 1812 and the Battle of Waterloo. In India he distinguished himself in the Sikh Wars, after which he was awarded a baronetcy for the victory at Aliwal in 1846.

Whittlesey's famous Butter Cross built circa 1680. This photograph was taken in the 19th Century, and is from the front cover of "Millennium Memories of Whittlesey" one of two books, each containing over 40 photos, recording life in Whittlesey in the past. These books, published on behalf of the Whittlesey Society are available from Whittlesey Museum)