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Our Museum Stores

North Herts Museum combines the historic collections of the former Letchworth and Hitchin Museums and contains a wide-range of objects, art works and natural history specimens.

The Museum Storage Facility project is an investment in the future of North Hertfordshire’s heritage. It will create a dedicated home for the museum collections, ensuring they are cared for to modern standards and remain accessible for research, learning and enjoyment for generations to come.

The collections tell the story of North Hertfordshire and its people, from prehistoric communities to the present day. They help us understand how the district has developed and foster a sense of pride and connection to our shared heritage.

For more than thirty years, the collections have been housed in a store in Hitchin that is now too small and increasingly unsuitable for the long-term care of the museum’s holdings. The new Collections Centre will provide the space, facilities and environmental conditions needed to protect and manage the collection effectively.

While only a small proportion of the collection is on display at North Herts Museum, every object contributes to our understanding of the district’s history. The Collections Centre will ensure these objects can continue to inspire and inform future generations.

Treasures within Our Stores

Throughout 2026, we’re going to be unlocking our district treasure trove and will be showcasing a unique artefact from our rarely seen, extensive collection every month. We’ll be plotting them on our district treasures map, and our curators will be telling you all about them both on this page and across our social media channels.

Nhdc 1644 North Herts Treasure Map V5 2000
CLICK TO ENLARGE
  1. Red deer antler pick
    This 4,000-year-old red deer antler pick was discovered just 38 metres away from the grounds of the new collection facility building. This ancient, festive fossil was appropriately chosen for its verbal and biological similarities to its cousin, the reindeer.
  2. American Mink
    As the name suggests, this mink is not native to North Herts or even Britain but is proof that American minks were present in Baldock in 1995 or earlier as it was found on Bygrave Road during that year. A very important part of North Herts natural history collection!
  1. A: Chron Gen concert poster
    This poster, in striking neon green, is advertising a concert at The Regal, the converted former cinema in Hitchin. On the bill are local punk band Chron Gen as well as the bands The Adicts and Filthy Habitz. The event was to be held on 24 September 1982 between 8pm – 1.30am with ticket prices £2.50.
    B: The Damned concert poster
    A poster advertising a performance by The Damned at The Regal in 1982. On Wednesday 6 October 1982, The Regal, the converted former cinema on Bancroft, played host to a gig by the leading punk band The Damned.
  2. Mammoth Tooth
    This spectacular 40,000-year-old prehistoric fossil, a real mammoth tooth, is a truly ‘mammoth’ discovery found right here in North Herts!
  3. John Kellerman, the “Last of the Alchemists”‘ pamphlet
    A fascinating piece of print history that explores the local folklore of North Hertfordshire through a captivating tale. John Kellerman was an alchemist who moved to the quiet North Herts village of Lilley in the early 19th century. After being interviewed by Sir Richard Phillips for his book: ‘A Personal Tour through the United Kingdom (1829)’, Kellerman suddenly disappeared without a trace, leaving locals to theorise how and why he mysteriously vanished…