Getting involved with Guildford Museum

Friends of Guildford Museum

The Friends of Guildford Museum was set up in 1995 to support and promote the work of the museum by raising funds to purchase suitable items to add to the museum's collection which would otherwise be beyond its financial means.

As a friend, you will have an opportunity to participate in a varied programme of talks, outings and social activities arranged to appeal to all age groups.

Friends receive two newsletters each year containing details of events and articles of local historical and archaeological interest.

For more information on the Friends or to join click on the Friends of Guildford Museum link in the related pages section.

Volunteering

We're always in need of an extra pair of hands across a range of departments. If you like the idea of working in a museum, if you want to learn more about the collections or even if you just have some spare time on your hands then get in touch!

Pastfinders

We run Pastfinders sessions for young people aged 12-16 years to learn more about how museums work and the objects they display in the course of 3 seperate sessions. See Pastfinders under the related articles section of this page for more information.

Surrey Archaeological Society

The Museum had its origins with the Surrey Archaeological Society, which was founded in 1854. In 1898 the society made their permanent headquarters here at Castle Arch, and opened the Museum to the public. In 1911 Gertrude Jekyll gave the society her large collection of objects from cottages in West Surrey and more space was needed to show them. Mr Ferdinand Smallpiece, a councillor, paid for a purpose built gallery and the council became more involved, having built up its own collection since 1905.

Since 1993, the Museum has been run entirely by Guildford Borough Council, which includes the care and display of Surrey Archaeological Society's own collection. Many of the items currently on display are part of the society's collections.

The Society's headquarters are still housed within the Museum building. To find out more visit the Surrey Archaeological Society's website (the link to which can be found on the right of this page).