Harborough Museum

About the museum

Harborough Museum grew out of the collection of the Market Harborough Historical and Archaeological Society, which held its first meeting in 1931. The society's objects were first shown in Welland House and then in a museum room in the county library. In 1981 Harborough District Council, Leicestershire County Council and the society agreed to open a new museum, and Harborough Museum opened in the Symington Building on 28 June 1983.

The building is a Victorian corset factory that was the manufacturing base of R & W H Symington & Co Ltd, a firm famous for its Liberty Bodice and other foundation garments. The council bought the Adam and Eve Street factory in 1980, and production in the remaining factory ended in 1990. The building was converted in 2013 to house the museum, library, adult learning and registration services.

The museum collects material about Market Harborough and the surrounding area. Its most important display is the Hallaton Treasure, an Iron Age hoard found in 2000 that includes coins, offerings and a first-century Roman cavalry helmet. Other displays cover local communities, the historical society's curiosities, and changing exhibitions. The museum is run by Leicestershire County Council as part of Culture Leicestershire.

Highlights

• Hallaton Treasure with Iron Age coins and a Roman cavalry helmet
• Local history displays on Market Harborough
• Curiosities from the Historical Society collection
• Symington corset factory history
• The Story Place children's displays
• Free entry

Permanent exhibitions

• The Hallaton Treasure – A gallery showing the Iron Age hoard found at Hallaton in 2000, including over 2,500 coins, offerings and a first-century Roman cavalry helmet.
• Displays of Market Harborough and its communities – Displays on the people and communities who shaped the town, including curiosities from the Historical Society collection and themed displays for younger visitors in The Story Place.

Founded

1983

Operated by

Leicestershire County Council (Culture Leicestershire)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

There is level access throughout the museum and an accessible toilet in the Symington Building. The nearest accessible entrance is reached from the Symington Way and Fox Yard car parks, which have accessible bays. An AccessAble detailed access guide and a sensory map showing sounds and light levels are published. The museum has no hearing assistance system in its changing exhibition gallery. Only assistance dogs are allowed.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Playground / play area

There is a small play area with toys, dressing-up costumes, a market stall and a fire engine cab, plus Roman and historical dressing-up, an interactive floor, sensory book bags and story and rhyme time. Regular drop-in sessions run for children. There is no dedicated pushchair parking, but there is level access and room to take a pushchair round.

Getting there & parking

The entrance to the Symington Building is on Adam and Eve Street. The nearest public electric vehicle chargers are slow chargers in the Doddridge Road car park.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Insomnia Café and an ice cream parlour are on the ground floor of the Symington Building. Food and drink are not allowed in the museum areas but can be taken in the library browser area. The museum shop sells gifts, books and Hallaton Treasure items.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit