About North Herts Museum
The museum
North Hertfordshire Museum is next door to the Town Hall in Brand Street, Hitchin. We display collections from the former Letchworth and Hitchin Museums and many items from around the District that have never before been on public display.
We are most grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), now known as the National Lottery Heritage Fund for generously supporting the development of the Museum.
Who runs the museum?
North Hertfordshire Museum is proudly managed by North Herts Council. This means the museum operates as an integral part of the local authority, benefiting from direct oversight, resources, and strategic direction provided by the council.
This ensures that the museum’s mission and activities are closely aligned with community needs and council priorities. As part of North Herts Council, the museum is committed to serving the residents and visitors of the district, preserving local heritage, and providing accessible educational and cultural experiences for everyone.
Our vision
North Hertfordshire Museum aims to increase the understanding and enjoyment of the culture, heritage and environment of North Hertfordshire, using the museum collections to tell the stories of the people who have lived and worked here. Our vision is to create a welcoming museum that plays an active role in the life of the District.
We meet this vision with:
- Permanent museum displays
- Temporary exhibitions
- Events and activities for all ages
- Outreach work throughout the District
- Community archaeology
- Education work and Loans Scheme
- The Local Studies Centre
- Support for other local museums and cultural activities
Who’s who at North Herts Museum
Ros Allwood
Cultural Services Manager
As head of the Museum Service, Ros is responsible for the service’s finances, strategic direction and overall programming.
Keith Fitzpatrick-Matthews
Museum Curator and Heritage Access Officer
Keith manages and develops the museum collections and delivers talks for the museum.
Matthew Platt
Museum Curator
Matthew helps manage the collections and cataloguing, as well as delivering talks for the museum.
Cas Sanders
Museum Curator and Learning Officer
Cas manages and delivers the Museum Learning Service and organises children’s workshops at the museum.
Rebecca Barkus
Senior Marketing Officer
Rebecca manages marketing for the museum and Hitchin Town Hall and organises the events at the museum.
Evan Tanswell
Assistant Marketing Officer
Evan runs the social media for the museum and Hitchin Town Hall, and assists with other marketing and events.
Ali Ioannou
Visitor Services Supervisor
Ali manages the Visitor Services team, who work together to ensure every visitor has an enjoyable experience.
Joelle Van Giap
Visitor Services Assistant
Nicola Viinikka
Visitor Services Assistant
Brenda Downie
Visitor Services Assistant
Ian Day
Museum Technician
Ian maintains the displays and exhibitions and assists with the set-up and take-down of temporary exhibitions.
Frequently asked questions
Entry to the museum and its exhibitions is free.
Yes, the museum is fully accessible throughout. There are lifts to all floors, accessible toilets, and two wheelchairs available for visitor use.
Yes, well-behaved dogs on a lead are welcome.
Yes, the museum has a café that serves drinks, snacks, and light meals. The café closes an hour before the museum itself.
Outside food or drink should not be consumed in the museum galleries to protect the collections from pests and spills. Visitors are also asked not to bring their own food into the café area.
Yes, the museum has a gift shop.
The museum displays collections from the former Letchworth and Hitchin museums, covering the history of North Hertfordshire from the geological past to the present day. Items range from Roman artefacts and a Victorian pharmacy counter to football memorabilia and local artwork.
Yes, the museum has a dedicated Exhibition Gallery and a smaller ‘Arches’ space for regularly changing temporary displays of art and heritage.
Yes, the museum arranges guided heritage walks and bookable talks by expert staff for groups, which can be held at the museum or an external venue.
At the moment, we are only looking for volunteers who have experience and expertise in areas such as museum conservation or in subject-specific museum collections areas, such as natural history.
When we have non-specialist volunteering projects, we will advertise these and how to apply on our social media platforms.