Hillingdon Times Virtual Museum Collection
Welcome to the Hillingdon Times 'virtual museum collection' in partnership with Hillingdon Council.
This website has been created to showcase some of the exhibits the London Borough of Hillingdon holds in its huge museum collection.
Hillingdon Council is currently cataloguing thousands of objects from the collection, and with their permission, the Hillingdon Times has collected photographs and information from many of the exhibits to bring you an online 'virtual museum'. The full catalogue of museum and archive items can be seen at www.heritagebuildsbridges.org.uk a website created in partnership with Brunel University and the British and Foreign School Society and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The local studies, archive and museum collections were first established in 1929 at a former school in Cowley Road. They cover all aspects of people, places and events in Hillingdon throughout history.
After a move to purpose built premises in 1940 a special room was dedicated to local history, but sadly when the service moved to the new Uxbridge Central Library, display space was limited and the bulk of the museum and archive collection had to be moved into storage. However, items are still displayed in the Central Library and in occasional large exhibitions. If you want to see any particular object you can just ask the staff to get them out for you.
Through the years the collection has grown, and it now numbers some 2350 objects. Special collections include topographical prints and drawings, items and material relating to Uxbridge and Harmondsworth Voluntary Fire Brigades as well as christening gowns and woodworking tools.
The Local Studies and Archive collection holds around 5000 books, 2000 pamphlets and 1500 maps, covering all parts of Hillingdon and over 400 metres of archives. They can be seen by visiting the Local Studies, Archive and Museum service at the Central Library. The staff can be contacted by phone on 01895 250702 or by email at archives@hillingdon.gov.uk.
We hope you find this section of our website valuable as a learning resource, or simply as somewhere to visit every now and again out of curiosity for your borough.