It was establishe d in 1931 by george willis, a local clock maker, antiquarian and former mayor of basingstoke. Milestones living history museum hampshires top attractions. Socalled because it loosely resembles a blacksmiths anvil, this ultramodern, multipurpose hall is known for its superb acoustics. Ming vases exhibition please be careful when taking that selfie. In its formative years basingstoke started out as a small market town at the time of the anglosaxons and was later referenced in the doomsday book as being a royal manor. You can read more about george willis by purchasing a copy of a small book. In basingstoke, there were 3 watermills, which ground grain to flour. Take a step back in time and immerse yourself in the past on a visit to milestones, hampshires museum of living history. Had a family day out to milestones museum in basingstoke it has something for. Our basingstoke business hotel is near the m3 motorway and offers easy access to central bars and restaurants, the highstreet stores at festival place mall and anvil concert hall with its diverse performing arts. The video below shows part of the deinstallation from new walk museum in leicester where the.
No, carers do not need to book a ticket, but do need to show proof of eligibility on entry to the museum. Visit a 1940s sweet shop and use a ration book to enjoy sweet treats. Explore the museums streets, shops and buildings to discover how people used to live, buy a ration of sweets from our 1940s sweet shop, view our unique collection of. Willis, a local clocksmith, who served as mayor of basingstoke in 192324. There are 4 ways to get from basingstoke to natural history museum by train, bus, taxi or car.
This was founded and directed by alderman george w. At the start of the visit youll be issued with an audio guide to accompany your selfguided tour of the museum. The willis museum is now located in the old town hall in the market place in. The willis museum is now located in the old town hall in the market place in basingstoke. Well even let you know about secret offers and sales when you sign up to our emails. Located in basingstoke, the fernbank hotel is in the city center and near a train station. Exactly 21 years ago today, nicolsons newsagents was open for the very last time. Basingstoke to natural history museum 4 ways to travel. It has been around as a market town since the domesday book, but was developed as a new town, one of several constructed in the 1950s to accommodate overspill population from london. Putmilestones museum into our basingstoke holiday planner and find out whats close by, where to stay, and where to head next. Twentyone years ago in may 1998, shops began to close. The museum cafe offers a selection of hot meals and light bites, hot and cold drinks and sweet treats. Almost 90 years ago, on january 22, 1931, the earl of malmesbury officially opened the doors to the basingstoke museum at the mechanics.
Crowne plaza basingstoke hotel is a 5minute drive from basingstoke railway station and 40 minutes from heathrow airport lhr. In the middle ages basingstoke grew into a town, though a small one. The areas tudor past can be seen to this day in the ruins of basing house which stand in the village of old basing just outside the main urban sprawl of basingstoke. The sewer works enjoy a guided tour of our sewage pumps and clarifiers.
Milestones museum basingstoke 2020 all you need to know. Milestones museum, leisure park, churchill way west. In their life sized streets youll find buildings, shops and vehicles recreated. Select an option below to see stepbystep directions and to compare ticket. Milestones immerse yourself in the past at hampshires museum of. Since 1984, the willis museum has been housed in this impressive early victorian building that was once basingstokes town hall. Coach departs guildford north street at 10am and milestones museum at 3. Further to my previous memory of basingstoke,and a reader mentioning odys groceries shop, i too remember it well, also yerburys hairdressers in winton sq and giffords store. Norfolk house, in basingstoke, hampshire, england, was the headquarters of the automobile association from the mid1990s until 2003. Basingstokes premier performing arts venue is the anvil, a short drive from the hotel in the town centre. By the time of the domesday book 1086, it had a population of about 200. It was originally intended to replace fanum house as the aas hq, but ultimately the building was not large enough to accommodate all basingstoke based employees and both buildings operated concurrently.
Milestones museum leisure park churchill way west basingstoke rg22 6pg milestones. Pubs relax and unwind in one of our traditionalstyle pubs. Buy an old penny and a ration coupon at reception and spend it in the 1940s sweet shop, or pop into. We loved this living museum, from mock buildungs, old arcade games, to old vehicles and even a real sweet shop that you can buy sweets from with your ration book. Willis museum and the anvil are cultural highlights, and travelers looking to shop may want to visit festival place and viables crafts centre. Basingstoke police station the iconic facade is instantly recognisable. Wifi and parking are free, and this hotel also features a restaurant. The exhibition is next on in basingstoke, spring 2020. The willis museum and sainsbury gallery, basingstoke, united kingdom. A team of museum assistants can help with enquiries, although visitors are advised to contact the museum on 01256 465902 to check their availability. It was originally on the west side of the market place, at the junction between winchester street and church street and was known sometimes as the mote or moot hall, sometimes as the market hall or the town hall.
The willis museum continues to function as it was first envisaged by george willis, as a local museum displaying basingstokes rich history, but has developed further, acting as a. Out with the old and awaiting the new basingstoke gazette. Theres no need to remember the good old days, at milestones living history museum you can live them. Milestones museum will be closed to the public on friday 14 february. Visit milestones museum on your trip to basingstoke or united. By the standards of the time, it was quite a large village. Basingstoke past and present britain in old photographs. The museum is home to over 20,000 objects that were either made or used in hampshire, and is a record of the countys social, industrial and transport history. Travel back in time to experience some of the changes that created the. Milestones is made up of a network of streets that have been recreated according to those found in victorian and 1930s hampshire. Basingstokes town hall has had several reincarnations in two locations over the centuries. It is named after george willis, a local clockmaker, antiquarian and former mayor of basingstoke, who became the first honorary curator when the original museum was established in the mechanics institute in new street in 1931. The first of these was an exhibition of diana stanleys works capturing old basingstoke in paint.
Compare every available hotel deal and airbnb near milestones museum, so book today to secure the best price. In this detailed recreation of life from the victorian times through until the 1930s and 1940s, you can travel the cobbled streets of yesteryear. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you. Immerse yourself in the past at milestones, hampshires museum of living history. Milestones brings the countys more recent past to life, with its 19th and 20th century street scenes. The willis museum and sainsbury gallery home facebook. The willis museum provides an overview of the towns history and whitchurch silk mill is the last working mill of its kind in the south.
A trip to milestones, hampshires living history museum in basingstoke, brings the past to life. Last weeks flashback thursday featured some fond memories of the new market square and lower town area. Willis museum and sainsbury gallery hampshire cultural trust. Milestones museum, basingstoke v084 the guildford institute. We found the cafe quite expensive but was nice food. Basingstoke and deane is home to three museums, each offering something different. Take a trip down memory lane and experience milestone museum, an award. George willis, a local clock maker, antiquarian and former mayor of basingstoke. Fernbank hotel fernbank hotel is a 4star venue situated about 1.
The museum s galleries explore the boroughs rich archaeological heritage, from the iron age period through to the romans and saxons, as well as detailing the towns more recent past. Milestones museum immerse yourself in the past at hampshire. It is named after george willis, a local clockmaker, antiquarian and former mayor of basingstoke, who became the first honorary curator when the original museum. The real story behind basingstokes museum basingstoke gazette. The former town hall, adjoining the old marketplace, houses the willis museum originally the basingstoke museum, until 1956. History of the willis museum friends of the willis museum. Basingstoke photos, maps, books, memories francis frith. The museum was originally housed in the old now demolished mechanics institute. Basingstoke in hampshire and its surrounding locations dont have a typical history of the mysterious as some places around the uk might have that puts it in the national psyche as a town known for its paranormal activity and hauntings, but it does still happen to house stories and mutterings of ghosts that have survived even the modern concrete and glass buildings of this 1960s london overflow. The willis museum is a local history museum in the market place, basingstoke, hampshire. As well as that there was a tea shop on london rd, the good hostess and on hackwood rd i remember nancy noyes bookshop. Reviews of milestones museum in basingstoke milestones museum venue information. Some managed to relocate, others disappeared forever. From cobbled streets to vintage vehicles, a 1940s sweet shop to a penny arcade, there is so much for everyone to see, do and enjoy at milestones, hampshires museum of living history.