Leatherhead Museum and Local Heritage Trust

Registered Charity No.273798

The Leatherhead Museum of Local History is in Hampton Cottage, a timbered 17th Century house at 64 Church Street. It was purchased by us in 1976. Trust members are appointed by the Leatherhead & District Local History Society. In 1980 the Museum was opened after extensive restoration of Hampton Cottage.

It is the Leatherhead & District Local History Society’s HQ as well as its showcase for many items of local interest. 2005 was our 25th Anniversary year.

ACCESS is free: Leatherhead Museum reopened for 2010 on 1 April

When the Museum reopened on 1st April, visitors were able to benefit from the quite considerable work of improvement that has been undertaken by volunteers during the closed season. This included swapping over two substantial glass display cabinets via the narrow steep staircase in order to ease circulation upstairs. Whilst the archaeological exhibits have been retained, the geological artefacts have been returned to store and the opportunity has been taken to extend the emphasis on Industrial History by a display about others such as Ashe Laboratories off the Kingston Road.

We have a significant collection of Ronson products. Ronson are perhaps best known for cigarette lighters of which there is a bewildering range of styles and we were delighted to add recently a new variety to us, a ball pen and lighter combined .

Another defunct manufacturer in Leatherhead, BVC better known as Goblin also had a quite extensive range of products and two recent additions to the collection are a radio and an 'air conditioner' (actually a fan heater!) made by them.

Visitors with recollections of the past of the area are invited to enter them in the Book of Memories.

HAMPTON COTTAGE (Leatherhead Museum) is perhaps the best exhibit of all, together with its attractive garden which has a well and the stone swan from the old Swan Hotel. The 'Victorian kitchen' is very popular with visitors.

There are collections of: Anglo-Saxon finds; Ashtead pottery (1923 to 1935); Ronson lighters and Goblin items; models of Hampton Cottage and a Roman Villa at Ashtead; and paintings, old photos and maps of the district.

In 2009 Leatherhead & District Local History Society was pleased to provide step-free access from the adjacent footpath to enable visitors with mobility difficulties to enter the garden and the ground floor of Hampton Cottage.
This new access, formally opened by Councillor Tim Hall, also enables pushchairs etc., to be easily brought onto the premises for the first time, and opening up the Museum to a wider range of people. It was built by C & R Builders and Decorators under contract to the Leatherhead Museum & Heritage Trust who gratefully acknowledge a generous grant from Surrey County Council towards the cost. Regrettably the nature of the little building, parts of which date from the 17th century, preclude access to the upper floor other than by stairs.

The Museum is open to visitors on Thursdays and Fridays from 1 pm to 4 pm and Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm. There is no charge for entry to this privately owned and funded Museum, which is fully Accredited by the MLA, but donations are always welcome towards the cost of running this attraction.

Those who have never seen the museum at 64 Church Street should plan a visit. There is so much of interest for everyone to enjoy. And there’s no entrance fee, although a donation is always welcome.

Photo report of accident in which a vehicle crashed into the Museum 6 Jan 2008

our eyecatching 'open' sign introduced in 2004
BY CAR: Leatherhead Town Centre is about 5 minutes from M25 Junction 9 and the town is an easy run from Kingston, Epsom, Dorking and Guildford. See map for location of car parks which are a short walk from the Museum. TRAIN: From Victoria, Waterloo, Guildford and Horsham to Leatherhead Station which is ten minutes easy walk to the Museum. There is a taxi stand at the station.