News

THE BOOK OF NOTABLE THINGS was first published in 1579 and is still in print today! There are only 6 known original copies of this book left and they are stored in libraries in England and the USA. They are all missing their front and back covers. Thame museum is delighted to have been donated what we believe to be a unique complete First Edition.
The donor, a Thame Resident inherited it from her grandmother and wishes that the book be on display for all to see. You can see the book on permanent display in the Tudor Room at the Museum.

Latest Acquisition

Roman Models at Thame Museum

Roman Models at Thame Museum

The museum has obtained two replica models, a farmhouse that may be similar to one in Roman Thame and a model of a working corn dryer, similar to several found at Thame Meadows. You can see these in the Main Gallery of the Museum.

Roman Thame had a significant farming community. The site of the current Thame Meadows housing estate, in Oxford Road, revealed a large thriving Roman settlement with paddocks and enclosures, corn dryers, kilns, ovens and a stone-lined well.

While full details of the dig are yet to be published, Thame Museum is beginning to share what is known so far.

Come and see our new SCHOOLS IN THAME display. There are over 100 years of objects on display from John Hampden School, Barley Hill school, Lord Williams’s School and the former Girls Grammar School. There are old school ties and uniform, a candid 1920s report card, a school diary and Latin Homework from the 1960s, (do you recognise any?) a sports trophy, science equipment and even a drawing of the old John Hampden swimming pool!

SOME NEW OBJECTS AND SOME OLD FAVOURITES

This lead tobacco jar was found in 1948, whilst ploughing land on the site of the Battle of Chalgrove (1643). It is more than likely from that period and was given to R.L.Willoughby, who made a study of the object. His findings can be found in a folder in the museum library.

The jar was then given to the John Hampden Society and subsequently loaned to the museum.

“Elizabeth” is now on display in the main gallery

This Victorian doll was donated to the museum with a small leather trunk containing clothes and accessories.

The doll was sent away for repair and was beautifully restored by Gill Richards, an award winning doll maker and restorer from Bristol.

Information included with the doll leads us to believe that it was used by a travelling salesman working for John Noble Ltd. of Manchester. John Noble was a Victorian costumier and the doll’s clothes would have been exquisite miniature samples made to scale.

The doll and the collection of clothes were owned locally, and had been passed down through the family. We have named the doll Elizabeth after the donor.

Elizabeth before her recovery

A recent donation of a horse’s head collar, which has been cleaned and conserved, now hangs near the display of agricultural objects. Although the windows in the main gallery are covered with a protective coating to filter UV light, as a precaution, the popular Mott wedding dress has been removed from display to allow it to “rest” for a while.

Did you know that the museum holds a magnificent collection of photographs?  Copies  are available for purchase.  Enquire at reception