Spalding Gentlemen's Society Museum
Museum of one of the UK's oldest learned societies, founded in 1710, with antiquities, art and rare books; closed for rebuilding until 2027.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Spalding Gentlemen's Society began in 1710 as informal meetings of local men at a coffeehouse in Abbey Yard, Spalding, and it was placed on a formal footing in 1712 by the lawyer Maurice Johnson. It is among the oldest learned societies in the UK. Its members and correspondents included Sir Isaac Newton, Alexander Pope and Sir Hans Sloane, and from the start it collected books, natural history specimens, coins, archaeological finds and scientific instruments.
The present museum building on Broad Street opened in 1911 and was extended in 1925 and 1960. It holds objects such as a Flemish astrolabe of 1565, a rare tapestry by James Christopher Le Blon, a marble relief of Newton, medieval manuscripts and a charter of 1399.
The later extensions had begun to subside and put the original building at risk. The museum is therefore closed while it is repaired, made more accessible and fully redisplayed for the first time in over a century. It is due to reopen in spring 2027. A further project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund is developing a larger museum on the neighbouring site.
Highlights
- Flemish astrolabe of 1565
- Tapestry "A Head of Christ" by Le Blon, given in 1732
- Marble relief of Sir Isaac Newton by Laurent Delvaux
- 13th-century illuminated Bible and 15th-century missal
- Charter of Deafforestation of 1399
- Map of Spalding of 1732 by John Grundy
- Founded
- 1950
- Operated by
- Spalding Gentlemen's Society
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Entry to the temporary galleries and reading room at Ayscoughfee Hall Museum is free.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- 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 temporary galleries and reading room at Ayscoughfee Hall Museum have level access to all spaces, and large-print information about the exhibits is available. The Broad Street building has no lift to its first floor; the rebuilding is intended to add one.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
The Society's website links to Stagecoach bus times for Spalding and to National Rail for train times.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
The Society has no car park of its own; visitors should check local car parks and parking restrictions.
The what3words address of the Broad Street museum is hears.words.mimic.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Stewards are available at most times to answer questions about the Society and its collections. Visits for groups can be requested at visits@sgsoc.org. |
|---|
