Distant Past to Present Day

The Museum’s collections span 3000 years of history, from pottery belonging to ancient civilisations to household goods of the 20th-century.

Archaeology displays show a variety of objects used by local people over the centuries, including Neolithic flint tools for hunting, and Iron Age currency bars for trading. From Roman Britain there are household objects found inside Roman villas, together with discoveries from a large Romano-British cemetery.

As well as local material there are ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman objects. Many of these were brought to Cheltenham by local travellers earlier this century. They include the foot of an Egyptian mummy and a shell-encrusted Greek vase.

Objects from more recent times can be seen in the 20th-century Gallery.

Alongside a look at Cheltenham during the Second World War are some early 'labour saving' devices illustrating the changes brought to British homelife by advances in technology. The work of local artists and craftspeople, such as the Winchcombe Pottery, is also on show here.