Willis Museum

About the museum

The Willis Museum is named after George Willis, a local clockmaker, antiquarian and former mayor of Basingstoke, who became its first honorary curator when the museum was set up in the Mechanics Institute in 1931. It was renamed in his honour in 1956. Since 1984 it has been in the old Town Hall in Market Place, a Grade II listed building designed by Lewis Wyatt in the 1830s on the site of the earlier Mote Hall.

The building was partly refurbished in 2009 with support from the Linbury Trust, which funded the Sainsbury Gallery for major regional and national touring exhibitions. The museum is run by Hampshire Cultural Trust, and a charity, the Friends of the Willis Museum, has supported it since 1978.

The galleries trace the history of the town from medieval times to the post-war expansion, and include the world’s oldest known wedding cake, from 1898, and a 1960s kitchen. The second-floor archaeology gallery covers the borough from the Stone Age to the Saxon period and shows a mammoth tusk 2.8 metres long and finds from the Roman town of Silchester. A statue of Jane Austen stands at the front of the building.

Highlights

• History of Basingstoke from medieval times to the 1960s
• Archaeology gallery with a 2.8 metre mammoth tusk and Roman finds from Silchester
• Wedding cake from 1898, thought to be the oldest in the world
• Sainsbury Gallery with changing exhibitions
• Café Willis and statue of Jane Austen outside

Permanent exhibitions

• Basingstoke’s story – The history of the town from medieval times to the post-war expansion, with the 1898 wedding cake and a 1960s kitchen.
• Archaeology gallery – Finds from the borough from the Stone Age to the Saxon period, including a mammoth tusk and objects from Silchester Roman Town.

Founded

1931

Operated by

Hampshire Cultural Trust

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to the museum and the Sainsbury Gallery is free and there is no need to book. Bring your own reusable cup for 30p off a hot drink in the café.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

There is ramped access to the front door and automatic or power-assisted doors to the Sainsbury Gallery and Café Willis on the ground floor. There is no accessible toilet in the museum, and all visitor toilets are on the first floor and reached by stairs. The nearest accessible public toilets are at Castons Yard, New Road (RG21 7ED), open 8:00 to 18:00 daily and about 2 minutes’ walk away. Assistance dogs are welcome if they are clearly identifiable.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

The museum offers hands-on activities, workshops and an activity trail for families. Baby changing is available.

Getting there & parking

By car, leave the M3 at junction 6 from the north (or take the A33 south of Reading) or at junction 7 from the south, then follow the signs to the town centre and the brown signs to the Top of the Town.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Café Willis serves hot and cold drinks, ice creams, cakes and snacks. There is also a museum shop.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

Up to 60 guests.

The second-floor gallery seats up to 60 people lecture style or 20 cabaret or boardroom style. The first-floor Ellaway room seats 12 boardroom style and can be arranged for activities such as craft workshops. Bookings by phone.

Plan your visit