Malvern Museum of Local History

About the museum

Malvern Museum of Local History is housed in the Priory Gatehouse, the main entrance to the Benedictine priory of Great Malvern, which was surrendered to the Crown in 1539. The oldest parts of the building date from the late 15th century, perhaps around 1480. It is listed Grade II* and is a scheduled ancient monument, and it is the museum's greatest exhibit. The building is often called the Abbey Gateway, although the monastery was a daughter house of Westminster Abbey and was never an abbey.

The museum is run by volunteers and tells the story of the town through themed rooms: the geology and prehistoric hill forts of the Malvern Hills, the medieval royal forest and priory, Tudor and Stuart Malvern, Victorian Malvern as a spa town built on the water cure, and the 20th century with the Santler and Morgan car makers, wartime Malvern and the radar scientists. Medieval window frames from the Guesten Hall can be seen and touched in the upstairs gallery.

The museum is small but offers dressing-up activities, slide shows, a touchscreen and audio guides. It has a shop, a programme of talks and events, and loan boxes and workshops for school groups.

Highlights

• Medieval Priory Gatehouse, Grade II* listed and a scheduled monument
• Water cure and Victorian spa town displays
• Santler bicycles, Morgan cars and the story of radar
• Medieval window frames from the Guesten Hall
• Free audio guides and dressing-up activities

Permanent exhibition

• Themed rooms of Malvern history – Rooms on the Malvern Hills, medieval Malvern, the Victorian water cure, and the 20th century with the Santler and Morgan cars, war years and radar.

Founded

1906

Admission & discounts

Adult admission is the same on weekdays and weekends. No concession, family or group rates are listed.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• 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

A ramp leads into the building and the ground floor is accessible, but the upper rooms are reached only by a twisty staircase. Visitors with restricted mobility can see a slideshow of the first-floor displays downstairs. Free audio guides and large-print room guides with colour overlays are available for visitors with visual impairments. The toilet is for emergency use only.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations

Visitors can dress up and use a touchscreen, and the upstairs gallery lets them touch medieval window frames. School groups can use quiz sheets and loan boxes.

Getting there & parking

The museum is at the top of the town between the Post Office and the Abbey Hotel, just below Belle Vue Terrace. Coach parties can be dropped off in Grange Road.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Small gift shop with affordable souvenirs. There is little space to store bags and none for lunch.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit