Connecting our Community to the Rich Heritage of Bishop’s Stortford
Discover the rich history of the town and its surroundings through captivating exhibits, local treasures, and engaging experiences that bring the past to life.
Virtual Museum Tour
Take a look around
Take a virtual tour of our 2nd-floor museum display and explore at your own pace! Use your mouse to navigate the space by clicking and dragging the background to look around.
Switch between regular and full screen with the square icon in the top-left corner for the best experience.
We also have our audio tours of the collections that you can listen to as you browse the galleries to find out about the artefacts we hold.
Very good, child-friendly museum. Excellent!
Fun for All the family
Explore, Learn, and Discover!
With our mix of family friendly local history displays, holiday activities and themed walks and talks, we have something to offer the whole family. If you want to explore the history of the town even further why not pick up a Town Trail – they are free and available from the Museum and Tourist Information Centre.
Discover a rare Roman coffin at the Bishop’s Stortford Museum, unearthed near the ancient Stane Street.
This 2,500kg limestone coffin holds the remains of a man of high status, offering a fascinating glimpse into Roman life and early Christian burial practices. Who was he? Visit to uncover the mystery!
what's On Now
Museum
Storytime – Who’s in the yellow digger?
Guided tour of the Museum
Kids Crafts – Spoon Superheroes
Talk – What happened to Waytemore? More than 5 centuries of active life
Storytime – Mrs Armitage Queen of the Road
Talk – That was the building that was…
Kids Crafts – We’re In a Spin
Storytime – Rhino’s Great BIG Itch
Talk – The Good School Guide to 19th Century Bishop’s Stortford
Walk – South Road and along the river
Talk – Pitcairn Island – 1790
Talk – Roman Stortford
Walk – Cemetery Walk
Talk – The Dorrington Family
Walk – Entertainment Walk
The children had a wonderful day at the museum. It was such an informative and fun day and very well planned. The activities were perfect and the day ran very smoothly. Every member of staff was so knowledgeable.
Have you been on one of our free guided tours?
Taking place on the first Saturday of every month. We also have our relaxed guided tour on every second Friday.
Find out more on our events page.
Blog
Stories from the Museum
Local Art Showcase
The ArtSpace
The ArtSpace at Bishop’s Stortford Museum is a vibrant showcase for local talent, where artists can display their work to the community. Open to professional artists and hobbyists alike, submissions are welcomed from anyone born, studying, living, or working in Bishop’s Stortford and the surrounding area. All forms of media are celebrated, from 2D paintings and photography to 3D sculptures and installations, making ArtSpace a dynamic and inspiring hub for creativity.
Very interesting and modern.
bringing history to life
Outreach & Education
We are passionate about bringing history to life for people of all ages. Our outreach and eduction programme offers engaging school visits, fun sessions for young people’s groups working towards local history badges, and free memory boxes for care homes to encourage conversation and well-being. Whether through hands-on activities, walks, or shared stories, we help connect communities with Bishop’s Stortford’s rich past.
I really enjoyed taking part in the Young Curators programme, it has given me a unique opportunity to get hands-on experience with the museum, and an opportunity to get involved with the local community.
Youth Volunteers
Young Curators
The Young Curator Programme at Bishop’s Stortford Museum offers an exciting opportunity for young people to explore the world of museum curation. Participants will learn valuable skills, from designing exhibits and selecting artifacts to creating engaging displays. This hands-on experience empowers the next generation to bring history to life while sharing their unique perspectives with the community.
I would strongly recommend it to any sixth-form student with an interest in history, not only because of the knowledge it gave me, but it is also a great way to make your personal statement or CV stand out.
Relax & Refuel
The Maltings Bar
You can add a treat to your visit to the Bishop’s Stortford Museum by taking a break in our Maltings Bar, themed to celebrate the town’s industrial heritage, which stocks a range of hot and cold drinks, snacks and Tiptree cakes.
Visit
Come and see us!
Admission to the museum is free; donations are welcome
Address
South Mill Arts, 1-2 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 3JG
Museum Hours
- Mon-Fri 10am-5pm
- Saturday 10am-4pm
Closed: 6th, 7th, 13th, 14th, 20th , 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, and 26th December
Want to get involved with the Museum?
Volunteer with us
You can volunteer at Bishop’s Stortford Museum in various ways and enjoy making new friends, being valued for your contribution and supporting our work.
- Collection management involves cataloguing artefacts and ensuring they are stored correctly
- Researchers help with the many requests we get for information and have access to our archives to answer all sorts of questions
- History talks and walks are given by local volunteers about their particular area of interest
- Our museum team captures oral histories from local people and a volunteer types these up for our archives.
- Activity volunteers help our learning and outreach co-ordinator to deliver engaging lessons and activities to local schools and community groups.
- Craft volunteers help with our popular holiday events – supporting our young visitors to discover the past and make something to take home.
- Reminiscence Supporters maintain our boxes of everyday items from the 1950’s onwards and help deliver reminiscence sessions to older people in care homes.
- We even have a storyteller for our under 5’s monthly story time
Please get in touch below to find out more.
Get in touch
Got a Question?
Got a question about the museum, our exhibits, or upcoming events? We’re here to help! Simply fill in the form below, and our team will get back to you within two working days. Whether you’re planning your visit or curious about our offerings, we’d love to hear from you!
