Ware Museum

Ware Museum was formed in 1986 by Ware Town Council and the Ware Society, following public meetings in Ware between 1984-85. Ware Town Council offered the use of the Priory Lodge at the entrance to Ware Priory, a Grade 1 listed building dating back to the 14th Century.

The museum was opened by volunteers (as it still is) on Sunday afternoons, but there were plans to expand.

In 2001 a Heritage Lottery Fund grant was awarded and we were able to both enlarge and update the galleries and link to the World War 2 Command Bunker in the museum garden.

A Tourist Information Point was opened for those exploring Ware, both visitors and residents.

In 2007 a further extension was built, with the help of a second Heritage Lottery Fund grant, to give more space for exhibitions and to provide a workroom for the back room team who record artefacts and prepare exhibitions.

During the 2001 building works a Mediæval Well was discovered that supplied water to the monks.  This was at first in the garden, but in 2007 it was enclosed in the new Star Gallery and a glass cover fitted that allows visitors to walk above the well!

A now unused window between the Star Gallery and the Hope Gallery has a display of Hitch Bricks, a patent building system, examples of which can still be seen in the town.

The Museum Garden has not been lost, it is still an oasis of calm in Ware Town Centre and it will be used to show the herbs that the original monks would have grown for culinary and medicinal uses.

Ware Museum is supported by grants and donations and we are grateful to all who contribute to the costs of providing this asset to the town of Ware.