Barnet Museum

Barnet Museum was opened in March 1938 to house the collection of the Barnet & District Local History Society. Its building is an attractive early Georgian house in the heart of Chipping Barnet. The Museum contains archives, objects, prints, photographs, paintings and maps reflecting the development of Chipping Barnet and the surrounding area, as well as a notable collection of period costumes and accessories, domestic items and lace.

The Battle of Barnet display has been redesigned and clarified with assistance from the Battlefields Trust. The sword found in the Meadway, previously thought to have dated from the mid 15th century, has been taken to the Royal Armouries for detailed examination and conservation work. It has now been provisionally dated to c1611. The Museum building is owned and maintained by the Borough, whilst the collection belongs to the Barnet & District Local History Society, whose members run the Museum itself.

The Society is celebrating 80 years of local history through two special events for members, revisiting the site of one of its early visits, Osidge, and the place where early lectures were held, the Tudor Hall. Work is also being done on putting together a book telling the story of the Society, the Museum and the collection. It is hoped to publish Trawling for Treasures at the end of 2007.