Heritage
Here at Weston Museum, we are passionate about heritage. We are proud of our town and its long history, which we can trace back to the prehistoric era.
Weston-super-Mare is nestled in the North Somerset coastline on the Severn Estuary with two long, sandy beaches bookended by limestone peninsulas: Brean Down to the south and Sand Point to the north. Weston famously has an exceptional tidal range – the second highest in the world – and these distinguishing features help to create a dramatic and varied landscape.
Weston’s story is one of fishing, agriculture, industry, transport, health, outdoor swimming, entertainment and tourism. The Victorian and Georgian architecture has endured, despite extensive bombing in June 1942, with architect Hans Price being the most notable figure in Weston’s development between 1862 and 1912.
In the modern era, Weston enjoys a rich and diverse arts and culture scene as home to talented individuals from Super Culture and Weston Art Space. We have three theatres – The Playhouse, The Blakehay and Front Room – all offering varied and compelling programmes of theatre, comedy, music, magic and talks.
Please view our Local History Information Sheets for further information about our brilliant town by clicking here!
Our Services
Please click on the following links to find out more about our exciting range of exhibitions and talks:
Staff
Jane Hill is our Heritage & Community Officer. Jane has a depth and breadth of experience from her long career in the heritage field, including working at the South West Heritage Trust and Historic England. Jane delivers an exciting programme of monthly in-house talks on a variety of historical subjects, visits community groups across North Somerset to give outreach talks and organises our Community Gallery and Blue Board exhibitions.
We also benefit greatly from a superb team of volunteers who undertake local history research, support the exhibition programme and even give talks on their areas of passion.
Partnerships
Weston Museum work in partnership with a range of organisations such as the South West Heritage Trust, North Somerset Council and local heritage groups. We work alongside community groups and individuals to create Community Gallery exhibitions that explore our fascinating local history through objects, text and photographs. In doing so, we help promote non-profit groups and give a voice to some fascinating stories.
Heritage Talks at the Museum
Jane Hill, Heritage & Community Officer at Weston Museum, offers an exciting and informative schedule of monthly talks here at Weston Museum. Jane speaks on a wide variety of subjects, a few examples of
which include:
· Hans Price architecture of Weston-super-Mare
· Ghost stories of North Somerset
· Old cinemas and theatres of Weston-super-Mare
· History of crime and punishment in Weston-super-Mare
There really is something to cater for every interest!
Cost and Booking
Jane’s talks are extremely popular and often reach capacity. As the talks are free of charge, there is no booking system and attendees are welcome on a first come, first served basis. If we reach capacity, we do unfortunately have to turn people away, so make sure you get here early!
When?
Jane holds her talks on Thursdays throughout the year. Please see our What’s On page or contact Rachel Joyce, Learning & Heritage Administration Officer for further details: rachel.joyce@wsm-tc.gov.uk
Heritage Outreach Talks
Are you a Local History Society, WI, Rotary Club or other interested party in North Somerset?
If your group or organisation is looking for a Heritage guest speaker, Jane Hill – Heritage & Community Officer – may be able to join you to speak on your choice of fascinating topics. A talk lasts about 45 minutes, with time for questions at the end.
Heritage Outreach Talks are free of charge, but donations to the Museum are always welcome.
Bookings
Jane is always in high demand and bookings fill up quickly! She is already fully booked for 2026 and 2027.
We will be taking bookings for 2028 when our bookings window opens in January 2027. Please direct any enquiries by email to our Learning & Heritage Administration Officer: rachel.joyce@wsm-tc.gov.uk
Community Gallery
Our Community Gallery is an excellent space to showcase a wide variety of not-for-profit local groups’ topics of interest from Weston-super-Mare and the surrounding areas.
In addition to the exhibition itself, we are lucky to have the Touch Screen Interactive. This exciting piece of technology allows visitors to view additional images, read further information and listen to related audio clips. Often the audio clips are recordings of local people involved in the current exhibition, creating an extra dimension to the exhibition.
The Community Gallery has a jam-packed schedule of innovative and topical exhibitions over the coming months. We look forward to seeing you! For further details, please visit our What’s On page.
Past exhibitions
– Alzheimer’s Society – Greek Community – Gypsies and Travellers – History of Birnbeck Pier – Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary; Weston, Clevedon & Portishead – Light Railway – Humans of Weston – LGBTQ+ Power of the Rainbow – Local Scouts – Masons – Multi-Cultural Friendship Association – North Somerset Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) Network – Rotary Club – Uphill Village Society – Weston Heritage Action Zone – Weston Museum 50th Anniversary – Weston Town Council Volunteers
Interested in Exhibiting at Weston Museum?
If you are interested in exhibiting in the Community Gallery, please contact our Learning & Heritage Administration Officer: rachel.joyce@wsm-tc.gov.uk
Blue Board exhibitions
Our Blue Board exhibition space is an exciting addition to the Heritage and Community work we do here at Weston Museum. These displays can last between two weeks and two months, and showcase various local heritage themes. The Blue Board exhibitions are currently produced by Museum staff and volunteers, sometimes in conjunction with other local parties. We are looking at developing this exhibition space to allow more local artists, community groups and individuals to exhibit their work.
We have a brimming schedule for our Blue Board exhibitions with a wide variety of topics on offer. You are sure to be wowed and learn something new!
Come along and take a look – near the back of the Museum, past the William Mable Galley on the way to Clara’s Cottage
Past exhibitions
– ‘Uphill At War’ by Weston resident and Museum volunteer, Stuart Castle – ‘Flotilla’ by Bristol-based artist, Chris Bodle – ‘History of outdoor swimming in Weston-super-Mare’ – ‘Metal detecting’ by Museum volunteer, Lorraine Stanley
Interested in Exhibiting at Weston Museum?
If you are interested in exhibiting on the Blue Boards, please contact our Learning & Heritage Administration Officer: rachel.joyce@wsm-tc.gov.uk