Bitterne Local History Society Museum and Heritage Centre

About the museum

Bitterne Local History Society was founded in 1981. The planned Bitterne bypass prompted local people to rescue items of interest before the area changed, and an exhibition and meeting led to the formation of the society. Its aims are to promote the study of local history and to protect features of historic interest in the parts of Southampton east of the River Itchen.

The society looks after the history of Bitterne, Bitterne Park, Harefield, Itchen, Merry Oak, Midanbury, Peartree, Sholing, Thornhill, Townhill Park, Weston and Woolston. Over the years it has rescued objects such as pub and shop signs, photographs, documents, regalia and shop fittings, and has campaigned to save local buildings and landmarks.

Today the society runs a charity shop at 231 Peartree Avenue, whose profits fund the museum and the heritage centre on the same premises, which are reached through the shop. The museum holds changing themed displays drawn from the collection. The heritage centre, staffed by volunteer stewards, holds books, photographs, maps, street directories from the 19th century onwards, newsletters of local groups and computer databases for family and local history research.

Highlights

• Changing themed displays of local artefacts and research
• Heritage Centre with books, photographs and maps of east Southampton
• Street directories from the 19th century onwards
• Newsletters of local schools, churches and other groups
• Educational resource boxes that schools can borrow

Founded

1993

Operated by

Bitterne Local History Society

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The building is on Peartree Avenue opposite Bitterne School. The what3words location is trout.nobody.shunts.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The museum and heritage centre are reached through the society’s charity shop, which sells books, publications, knitting yarn and second-hand goods.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit