Roman Alcester Museum

About the museum

Alcester was a Roman small town, and it is one of the most thoroughly excavated in Britain, with more than 100 archaeological digs in the last 80 years. The museum came into being in 2004, after many years of work by a small group of local people who believed that the finds made in the town over the previous century should be shown where they were found.

The museum occupies the converted former magistrates' court in Globe House, in the same building as Alcester Library. It is run by volunteers from Alcester Roman Heritage Trust, a charity, under an agreement with Warwickshire County Council, which is responsible for the exhibits and their curation. The museum receives no regular funding and relies on donations. It marked its 20th anniversary in 2024 with a Roman festival, for which schools and community groups made helmets and shields for display.

The displays focus on Roman Britain and include pottery, coins, jewellery, maps and a sample excavation. The Alcester Samian ware collection is unusual because the bowls are largely undamaged, which may mean that a trader's stock was buried during a fire or similar disaster. Many objects carry QR codes that link to more detailed information, and there are hands-on activities for families. School groups can handle artefacts, dress in Roman armour for a photograph and watch a short film about a day in the life of the Roman town.

Highlights

• Finds from one of Britain's most excavated Roman small towns
• Alcester Samian ware collection with largely undamaged bowls
• Pottery, coins, jewellery and a sample excavation
• QR codes on many objects for extra detail
• Hands-on activities for families and school groups

Permanent exhibitions

• Roman Alcester exhibition – Finds from the Roman small town, including pottery, coins, jewellery, maps and a sample excavation, with QR codes that link to more detail.
• Alcester Samian ware collection – A collection of imported Roman tableware whose bowls are unusually undamaged, perhaps because a trader's stock was buried in a disaster.

Founded

2004

Operated by

Alcester Roman Heritage Trust (volunteers), with Warwickshire County Council

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free; donations help to fund the museum and its education programme.

Accessibility

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

The museum describes itself as fully accessible. Two parking spaces for visitors with disabilities are reached from Seggs Lane. Only guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations

The museum offers hands-on activities for families. School groups can handle pottery and other artefacts and dress in Roman armour for a photograph.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in Globe House, part of the same building as Alcester Library, in the centre of Alcester, seven miles west of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Amenities & dining

• Wi-Fi

Library Wi-Fi is available in the museum.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit