Henley-in-Arden Museum & Heritage Centre

About the museum

The Henley-in-Arden Museum & Heritage Centre is housed in Joseph Hardy House at 150 High Street, a historic building whose oldest parts have been dated by tree-ring analysis to 1345. A rare crown post roof is one of its features, and displays describe how the building developed over six centuries. The centre was made possible by a gift from Joseph Alexander Hardy of Pennsylvania, a former Lord of the Manor of Henley-in-Arden, and was opened in November 1996 by his daughter, Robin Hardy Freed.

The museum tells the story of the town from the Norman Conquest to the present day. The ground floor has a medieval room on the settlement of Beaudesert and the early lords of the manor, with a model of the old market cross and Beaudesert Castle and the original charter of 1449 granted by Henry VI. There is also a reading room with an archive for family and local history research, and a kitchen with a black-leaded range.

Upstairs are a Victorian schoolroom, rooms on trade and transport, a home life room with Victorian and Edwardian clothes and toys, and an activity room where children can dress up. The centre is run by volunteers and managed by a registered charity, the Joseph Hardy Charitable Trust, and it welcomes school and group visits.

Highlights

• Medieval house with parts dated to 1345
• Original 1449 charter granted by Henry VI
• Model of the old market cross and Beaudesert Castle
• Victorian schoolroom for children to try
• Collection of Victorian and Edwardian clothing and toys

Permanent exhibitions

• Medieval Room – The Norman settlement of Beaudesert and the early lords of the manor, with a model of the old market cross and Beaudesert Castle and the 1449 charter.
• Victorian Schoolroom and home life – A Victorian schoolroom, a room of Victorian and Edwardian clothing, toys and household devices, and an activity room for children.
• Trade and Transport – Objects on the growth of trade under royal charters, the coming of coach and railway transport, the post office, mills, fire brigade and local firms.

Founded

1996

Operated by

Joseph Hardy Charitable Trust

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is free. Donations towards running costs are appreciated, and a donation is welcomed for organised group visits.

Accessibility

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

A wheelchair entrance gives access to all ground floor exhibition areas. There is no wheelchair access to the upper floor, but a video virtual tour of the upstairs rooms is shown in the ground floor reading room. The stairs are low rise with robust banisters. There is a disabled toilet on the ground floor. Displays are lit by spotlights, and the reading room has an illuminated magnifying reader.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations

Children can try the Victorian schoolroom, answering questions in the old textbooks, and dress up in Victorian costumes in the activity room, which also has traditional games.

Getting there & parking

Henley-in-Arden is 15 miles south of Birmingham and 8 miles north of Stratford-upon-Avon on the A3400. The centre stands on the west side of the High Street, just south of St John’s church.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The entrance hall offers souvenirs and tourist information, and there is a gift shop. The cafés and shops of the High Street are close by.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit