Curtis Museum
The Curtis Museum in Alton is one of Hampshire’s most engaging local history museums, known for its rich collections that trace everyday life in the region from prehistory to the 20th century. Founded in 1865, it holds an unusually deep archive of personal stories, archaeological finds and objects that reveal how communities in East Hampshire lived, worked and celebrated across the centuries. Inside, one of the most striking displays is the Saxon Alton Buckle, a masterpiece of early medieval craftsmanship decorated with intricate gold and garnet inlay. The museum also showcases artefacts from the Battle of Alton (1643), including weapons and documents that bring this Civil War clash vividly to life. Visitors can explore rooms dedicated to Victorian domestic life, complete with toys, household tools and medical equipment that show how families managed daily routines before modern conveniences. The archaeology collection includes Roman pottery, Iron Age tools and prehistoric finds discovered across the region. A favourite section is the Jane Austen display, highlighting her connections to Alton and Chawton through letters, local objects and social history. The museum’s blend of intimate stories and rare artefacts makes it a rewarding stop for anyone interested in Hampshire’s deep and varied past.
Alton United Kingdom
The Curtis Museum is right in the heart of Alton in East Hampshire, one of those lovely old market towns that feels very English. You will find it on the High Street at Alton, Hampshire GU34 1BA, inside the old Assembly Rooms. It is hard to miss, right in the town centre next to the shops and cafes, and it has been there since 1865 when Dr William Curtis started the collection. It is a great base for exploring the area because you have so much history around you. Just down the road in the same town is the Allen Gallery, its sister museum, known for its ceramics collection and pretty walled garden. The big draw nearby is Chawton, only a couple of miles away. There you have Jane Austen's House Museum, where the author lived, and Chawton House, the Elizabethan manor that belonged to her brother. If you like nature and literature, Gilbert White's House and Gardens at Selborne is also close. For castles and old ruins, Farnham Castle is about fifteen minutes away over the border in Surrey, and Odiham Castle, one of King John's old hunting fortresses, is a nice quiet ruin to visit. You are also right on the edge of the South Downs National Park, so countryside walks are everywhere.
Museum