Willis Museum: A Journey Through Basingstoke’s History

The museum is named after George Willis, a local clockmaker, antiquarian and former Mayor of Basingstoke, who founded the original museum in 1931 in the Mechanics Institute in New Street. He collected and displayed various artefacts related to the town’s history, such as clocks, coins, pottery and fossils. In 1984, the museum moved to its current location, which was designed by Lewis Wyatt and opened in 1832 as the Town Hall and Corn Exchange. The building was partly refurbished in 2009 with funding from the Linbury Trust, which was founded by Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover, and the Sainsbury Gallery was created to provide facilities to host major exhibitions.

The museum has three main galleries: the Archaeology Gallery on the second floor, the Story of Basingstoke on the first floor, and the Sainsbury Gallery on the ground floor. The Archaeology Gallery displays the borough’s ancient past from the Stone Age to the Saxon period, featuring items collected by Mr Willis himself, as well as artefacts from Calleva Atrebatum (Silchester Roman Town). The highlight of this gallery is the 2.8 metre long mammoth tusk found near North Warnborough. The Story of Basingstoke traces the town’s more recent history from medieval times to the postwar expansion of the town. Here you can see the world’s oldest wedding cake (dating to 1898), the story of ‘Pickaxe’ (a notorious local character), and a 1950s kitchen. You can also take a selfie with the Jane Austen statue, which commemorates her connection to Basingstoke, where she attended dances at the original Mote Hall that stood on this site. The Sainsbury Gallery hosts a variety of exhibitions throughout the year, ranging from art and photography to history and science. Some of the previous exhibitions include LEGO® Brick Wonders, Hampshire Open Studios, and Jane Austen: An Inspiration.

The museum also offers a range of activities and events for all ages and interests, such as workshops, talks, trails and quizzes. You can also browse the museum shop for souvenirs and gifts, or enjoy a drink and a snack at the café.