Christ's Hospital Museum
School museum in Horsham telling almost 500 years of Christ's Hospital through uniforms, art, objects and archives; visits are by appointment.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Christ's Hospital was founded in 1552 under the young King Edward VI to look after poor and fatherless children in London. It opened in Newgate Street in November 1552 with 380 pupils and moved to Horsham in 1902, where it now stands in about 1,200 acres of Sussex countryside as a boarding school for roughly 900 pupils.
The museum looks after more than 100,000 objects and archive items from the school's history. Some are shown around the school site, while others are held at the London Metropolitan Archives and Ironmongers' Hall in London. The main displays are on the upper floor of the old school infirmary, reached by a staircase from a small introductory display near the entrance.
The collection covers paintings, prints and photographs, manuscripts and school magazines, and objects such as prizes, badges, crested china and silver. It also records everyday school life. Well-known items include the traditional uniform of long blue coat and yellow stockings, portraits of pupils from the early 1800s, a silver badge of the Royal Mathematical School founded in 1673, and a satirical print from 1817 about the lottery draws that pupils took part in. The museum also offers research and family history facilities and welcomes former pupils, known as Old Blues.
Highlights
- Traditional uniform of long blue coat and yellow stockings
- Royal Mathematical School silver badge (1673)
- Early 19th-century portraits of pupils
- Satirical print on the pupils and the state lottery (1817)
- Crested china, silver and everyday school objects
Permanent exhibition
- Permanent displays on the history of Christ's Hospital – Uniform, portraits, prizes, silver, crested china and archive material tell the story of the school from 1552 to today.
- Founded
- 1994
- Operated by
- Christ's Hospital (school)
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Entry is free for the school community. Visitors from outside are invited to make a donation to support the museum.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum can be visited as part of a tour of the school; no specific family offers are listed.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Verrio Tours of the school site and the museum can be booked through the museum's What's On page. Research visits and visits to the displays need an appointment. |
