HISTORY FOR ALL AT HAVERING MUSEUM

Havering Museum at 19-21 High Street is run by the local voluntary charity Havering Museum Ltd. The museum tells the story of the people who have lived and worked in Havering over the centuries. The Manor of Havering is recorded in the late 11th century "Domesday Book" and existed before Romford or Hornchurch. The museum has objects and displays covering the histories of Havering-atte-Bower, Romford, Hornchurch, Rainham and Upminster and separate areas examining the history of farming, trading, childhood, local industry and home life in Havering.
Residents are invited to bring photographs and memories to share, or just to come along and listen, at reminiscence sessions between 2-4pm on Friday afternoons. Sessions are themed and more information can be found by asking in the museum or visiting their website. All are welcome at these friendly sessions. Admission is included in the price of museum entry, though the charity do ask for a donation of 50p to cover the cost of tea, coffee and biscuits.
The museum has a Saturday club for children aged 4-11 during term time. It meets from 12 to 1pm on Saturdays and annual membership is £10 per child. Children’s history trails are also available in the museum, covering topics such as the Spooky Victorians and Crime and Punishment. For more information on these, please ask one of the friendly volunteers on the museum front desk. The museum has recently been praised by the Mayor of London for its work with teenagers, and one of its young volunteers won the prestigious Special Youth Award at the London Volunteers in Museums Awards recently.
Friends of Havering Museum offer social events and private views of temporary exhibitions in the museum and fund raise to support the work of the charity. For more information on the Friends please ask at the museum front desk or visit their website http://www.friendsofhaveringmuseum.btck.co.uk.
An exhibition about the Artist Rifles group of poets, artists and actors, some of whom were based at the military camp at Hare Hall - now the site of the Royal Liberty School, around the period of the First World War will open in the museum in September.
The museum is staffed by local volunteers and is open Wednesday-Friday 12-5pm, Saturday 11am-5pm. The museum is funded by local donation and subscription. Children have free entry to the museum as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Entry prices are; adults £2.50, senior citizens £2. Season tickets giving unlimited entry to the museum for a year are £15 for adults and £12 for senior citizens. The museum website is http://www.haveringmuseum.org.uk and its telephone number is 08452 707 737.