About Us
The Friends of Windsor Museum are a welcoming group of local history enthusiasts dedicated to supporting and preserving Windsor’s heritage. Through fundraising, volunteering, events, guided tours, and special acquisitions for the collection, we help the Museum continue to grow and thrive. Based in the historic Grade I listed Windsor Guildhall beside Windsor Castle, we invite anyone with an interest in local history to join us in exploring and protecting the town’s remarkable past.
In the News
The activities of the Friends has attracted the attention of local newspapers.
Members
In 1991, a passionate group of local historians and community members came together to form the Friends. They were united by a shared vision: to secure a permanent home for our museum collection. Our dream became a reality in 2011 when the museum proudly opened its doors in Windsor Guildhall.
The Friends are dedicated to making the rich history of the local area accessible to all. Through ongoing fundraising, we support the museum’s collection, displays, events, and activities. With an annual program of engaging talks and social events, members stay connected and informed. They also receive a quarterly newsletter. Their commitment ensures that our museum thrives as a vibrant hub of history and community.
Becoming a member is very easy and rewarding. Our Membership page provides more details on how to become a member and the cost. The more members we have, the louder our voice is in matters related to the Museum and the Collection.
Volunteers
Many of the Friends also support our Museum as Volunteers. They infuse our Museum with energy and passion, inspiring residents and visitors alike to delve deeper into the rich heritage of the Royal Borough and of the Collection.
With their enthusiasm and knowledge, they:
- Help with stewardship of the Museum and the Collection.
- Lead guided tours of the Guildhall.
- Assist with the curation and maintenance of the Archive Store.
- Raise funds and support the Museum’s income generation activities.
- Aid Museum Staff with research, exhibition, projects and answering questions.
But don’t just take our word for it – the Museum has produced a Volunteers Video which is on YouTube. Well worth a watch!
Each of the Volunteers has a favourite object in the Collection or a favourite place or item in the Guildhall. For some, it is an 1863 bar receipt, for others a set of Pedlar Dolls, and others a famous stained glass window which was a gift from Windsor, Ontario. Our Friends’ Favourites has the items and the story behind them.
The Volunteers meet lots of interesting visitors to our Museum who are keen to share stories about their connection to Windsor. We are collating these nuggets as Friends’ Stories and recording them for posterity.
Volunteering is not as daunting as it may seem! Whilst some knowledge of the history of Windsor and the surrounding area is useful, you certainly don’t need to be an ‘expert’. The other volunteers and staff are a friendly bunch, and there’s always somebody around who can help. Please have a look at our Volunteering page for more information, or simply Contact Us.
Guided Tours
When the Museum is open, the Volunteers undertake guided tours of the Guildhall. These last 30 – 40 minutes are for a small charge of £5, which goes towards the Museum’s upkeep. The Volunteers take the public upstairs to the ornate rooms, which have seen the marriage of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, and the civil partnership of Elton John and David Furnish.
As you can imagine, these famous rooms have many tales to tell, and our guides will share the best of them.
Community Lottery
We are part of the local Community Lottery, which is an exciting weekly draw that raises money for good causes in the Royal Borough. These benefit the local area and its residents. By buying a ticket, you can help us support the Museum. See more about the Community Lottery and how we participate.
Publications
We will send you a quarterly newsletter as a member of the Friends. This has updates from the Museum, also from members, together with fascinating articles about local history. This has been published for many years, and we have quite a back catalogue! You will receive your newsletter electronically in March, June, September, and December, or, for a small supplement, as a hard copy sent via the traditional postal service. Please see our Newsletter Archive for more information.
Do you have a story to share? Perhaps an intriguing old photo or a memorable encounter at the Museum? We invite you to contribute and help us bring history and our Museum to life!
The Friends have also published a book in 2013 called Windsor Through Time. This is available in print, ISBN 978 1 4456 1595 0, or as an eBook ISBN 978 1 4456 1604 9. It shows the Windsor area both now and many years ago; the photographs allow a direct comparison of locations to see how they have changed. The informative text helps understanding.
It was the result of months of dedicated research by Malcolm Lock, chairman of the Friends of the Windsor and Royal Borough Museum, along with his wife Gloria, former chairman Norman Oxley, Beryl Hedges, and Dr. Brigitte Mitchell. It is available from Amazon and specialised retailers, or a used copy from eBay.
Fundraising & Donations
Whilst the Friends do take a membership fee, much of the funds raised for the Charity are from sales, talks and donations. An example is our popular Christmas cards, which are on sale in the Museum. We are delighted to have acquired the rights to sell a beautiful card by local artist Matthew Burley – ‘Silent Night at the House of Windsor’. Matthew uses the photorealism technique, and his work is stunning.
With the current situation of the tight Museum budget and an uncertain future, donations and sponsorships are growing in importance for the continuation of a permanent Museum in Windsor. Please Contact Us should you wish to discuss a donation or sponsorship.
Talks
Before COVID, we organised regular evening talks on fascinating topics centred on Windsor and its surrounding areas. These popular events featured engaging presentations from both our knowledgeable members and invited experts, each sharing unique insights and stories. The talks weren’t just lectures—they sparked lively discussions during the Q&A sessions, where curious minds could dive deeper into the subject matter.
Our varied talks have also included: Gothic Grand Designs, Clewer Green School, The Berkshire Yeomanry at Gallipoli, For King & Country, History of the John Lewis Partnership, and Royal Weddings and Scandals.
These talks resumed in 2023, and we’re planning even more. We’ll be sharing the details soon, so keep an eye on our social media channels and the Noticeboard right here on our website.
In the News
The Friends have been in the local press on many occasions. With help from our friends at the Windsor Local History Group, and of course at the Windsor & Eton Express, we have some cuttings that we hope you will find interesting.
We do have a range of Press articles that are of interest, covering the Friends, the Collection and the Museum.
Governance
The Friends are a registered charity with the appropriate governance in place. Our AGM is in June, where the committee is appointed who follow our constitution to benefit the Museum and the membership.
In Memoriam
The Friends have been around for a long time. Firstly, fighting to get a Museum in Windsor, and then to keep it open. Sadly, during that time, we have lost members. We remember some of those members through short obituaries that can be found in our In Memoriam section. Locals will instantly recognise some of the names: Hester Davenport and Beryl Hedge are but two.
Friends of Windsor Museum 