Leatherhead Museum

About the museum

Leatherhead Museum is housed in Hampton Cottage, a timber-framed house of the seventeenth century that is recorded as far back as 1682 and is listed Grade II. The Leatherhead and District Local History Society bought the cottage in 1978, restored it, and opened it as the town museum in 1980. The timber frame was renovated again in 2019.

The museum has six rooms of displays on the history of Leatherhead and its surroundings, along with a small garden holding early industrial exhibits. The collection includes Roman finds from a local villa, a large collection of Ashtead Pottery, and aquatint prints by John Hassell and his son. Other displays look at local manufacturing, an interactive cottage kitchen, archaeology of the river valley and the town's links with Jane Austen, and the gallery shows art exhibitions during the year.

The museum is staffed by volunteers who guide visitors through the collections and answer questions. Admission is free, and schools and students are welcome by arrangement.

Highlights

• Roman artefacts from a local villa
• Large collection of Ashtead Pottery
• Aquatint prints by John Hassell and his son
• Interactive cottage kitchen
• Seventeenth-century timber-framed Hampton Cottage with a small garden

Permanent exhibition

• Leatherhead Museum displays – Six rooms on local history, including Roman finds, Ashtead Pottery, an interactive cottage kitchen and a river-valley archaeology timeline.

Founded

1980

Operated by

Leatherhead and District Local History Society

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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

The building is a historic cottage; the museum website gives no accessibility information, so please telephone the museum before visiting.

Kids & families

The garden and the interactive cottage kitchen suit younger visitors.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in Church Street, Leatherhead, with train and bus services nearby. The website gives no parking details.

Amenities & dining

A small garden with early industrial exhibits.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit