The story of the museum
The East Surrey Museum
The museum began in 1980 and opened to the public in 1981. It was started by the archaelogical section of the Bourne Society with Lesley Keteringham as its first curator; there are still close links with the Bourne Society whose members provide many of the volunteers to staff the museum.
It is situated on the ground floor of a flint and brick house, built about the turn of the 19th century. Within living memory the house has been an estate agent's, a dentist's, and temporary council accomodation. The council appointed Mr Long as architect; he produced an excellent conversion with the museum downstairs and an entirely seperate flat upstairs.
The council still provides and maintains the premises and provides a grant towards the running costs. The rest of the funding is raised by the Friends or through grants.
Until 2003 it was an all-volunteer museum, when a succesful bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund allowed the appointment of a professional curator/outreach officer. The museum has been able to build upon its success, and the service has been able to expand.
