Windsor & Royal Borough Museum

A Museum Born from Festival Celebrations

Windsor & Royal Borough Museum emerged from a Festival of Britain celebration in 1951, when local historian Maitland Underhill created an exhibition about Windsor's history that proved so popular it remained on display in the Guildhall for over three decades. The museum was formally reopened by Her Majesty the Queen in 2011, cementing its status as a cherished institution within the community. Today, it stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of local history and the power of grassroots cultural preservation.

Treasures Spanning Millennia

The museum's collection of approximately 13,500 objects tells the story of human habitation and achievement across the Royal Borough. Visitors encounter Stone Age flints alongside Roman tiles, First World War letters, and contemporary artifacts. Among the most striking pieces are a 100,000-year-old mammoth tusk and a model of the Hawker Hurricane, the legendary aircraft designed by Windsor-born aviation pioneer Sir Sydney Camm. The collection also features an impressive array of royal portraits dating from Elizabeth I onwards, displayed within the splendid rooms of the Guildhall itself, offering glimpses into centuries of civic and royal history.

Voices of the Community Through Time

What distinguishes this museum is its commitment to oral history and community engagement. An audio trail guides visitors through the galleries using stories told by local residents about their lives and the changing landscape of Windsor over generations. This innovative approach transforms the museum from a passive repository of objects into a living dialogue between past and present. The Royal Borough Memory Box project extends this philosophy further, inviting visitors to contribute photographs, videos, artwork, and personal stories documenting their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a contemporary historical record.

The Guildhall: A Historic Setting

The museum occupies the ground floor of Windsor Guildhall, a Grade I listed building that is itself a historical treasure. The Guildhall's architectural significance and ceremonial importance add layers of meaning to the museum experience. Guided tours of the building's upper floors, available on selected days, reveal ornate ceilings, civic regalia, and the formal rooms where Windsor's governance has unfolded. This integration of museum and historic building creates an immersive environment where architecture and artifact combine to illuminate the past.

Accessibility and Community Focus

The museum prioritizes accessibility and inclusivity, offering free admission to all visitors and wheelchair access to the ground floor galleries. A stair lift provides access to Guildhall tours upon request. The institution is supported by the Friends of Windsor & Royal Borough Museum and a dedicated team of volunteers, reflecting its role as a community-centered cultural space. The museum's digitization project, ongoing since 2014, continues to catalog and make available online thousands of objects from the collection, extending access beyond physical visits.

A Window into Royal Borough Heritage

For those seeking to understand Windsor beyond its famous castle, this museum offers essential context. It reveals the trades, industries, and everyday lives of ordinary people who shaped the town's character. From medieval merchants to Victorian residents, from wartime experiences to modern community life, the collection presents a multifaceted portrait of the Royal Borough. The museum serves as both a repository of material culture and a platform for the voices and stories that give that culture meaning.