A local history museum in an early 17th century town house, enhanced by a charming recreated 'Jacobean' knot garden of intertwined hedges of box and lavender.
The displays depict Hertford's historic past as a royal borough, market for a
large rural population and county town. It contains the Hertfordshire Regiment Collection.
There is a changing programme of temporary exhibitions and museum offers visitors
the chance to find out about the history of the county town of Hertfordshire.
"Dark Herts"
Please note that Hertford Museum will be closing to the public on Wednesday 24th December 2008 for refurbishment and will re-open in early 2010. Please see our What’s on page for events taking place in other venues during our closure.
Curator: Helen Gurney BA AMA
Assistant Curators (job share): Sara Taylor and Ruth Stratton
Collections Assistant: Margaret Harris
Administrator: Connie Taylor
Email: hertfordmuseum@btconnect.com
Click here for our Disability Guide
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An exhibition of fiendish crimes and criminals over the centuries from across the county - until 15th November
An exhibition of the criminal heritage in Hertfordshire opens on the ground floor of Hertford Museum on 23rd August until 15th November 2008.
The county town has been witness to many fiendish crimes and criminals over the centuries and has seen three Gaols. Until 1878, the Museum held the Gaol gallows on which many a villain ended their lives. These were bought by Madame Tussaud’s and can now be seen in the Chamber of Horrors.
Just some of the chilling objects and true stories on display will include: original sketches taken at the much publicised trial of murderer John Thurtell, an array of police enforcement articles, the portrait of a double murderer whose crime was described by a contemporary source as ‘two of the most atrocious murders perhaps ever committed’. Also, find out what happened to the last witch in Hertfordshire and many more grim and gruesome tales from the darkest reaches of the museum’s collection.
For our younger visitors there will be pillories to try for size and a quiz to have a go at.
In 1824, John Thurtell shot, stabbed and robbed William Weare after Weare cheated on a game of cards, losing Thurtell £300. Thurtell was hanged on the 9th of January in front of Hertford Gaol on the gallows that are now resident in Maddam Tussaud's Chamber of Horrors in London. On display at the museum is the pistol that is reputed to have been used by Thurtell to shoot Weare.