Museums news

Northampton Museum and Art Gallery reaches major construction milestone

The expansion of Northampton Museum and Art Gallery reached a major construction milestone today, when final panels of roof glazing were craned into the atrium extension making the building watertight

Published 31 October 2019.

Guildhall and Northampton Museums catering services tenders now open

Northampton Borough Council is inviting tenders for bar and catering provision for the Guildhall, Northampton Museum and Art Gallery, and Abington Park Museum.

Published 06 August 2019.

Medieval Mayhem comes to Abington Park

Visitors to Abington Park will be able to experience a taste of medieval life and meet archers, men at arms and nobles in spectacular armour, at an event organised by Abington Park Museum.

Published 30 July 2019.

Making shoe history for Northampton Museum & Art Gallery

A pair of 15th century-inspired 12 inch platform shoes are being created by a historical shoemaker to go on display at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery.

Published 18 June 2019.

Volunteers’ Week 2019: Council volunteering opportunities

During this year’s Volunteers’ Week Northampton Borough Council is highlighting long and short term opportunities to volunteer for their services.

Published 03 June 2019.

Northamptonians offered chance to take part in museum exhibition

Local people are being offered the opportunity to feature in the first exhibition in the newly expanded Northampton Museum & Art Gallery when it opens next spring.

Published 29 May 2019.

One hundred local artists to be showcased at Art in the Park exhibition

One hundred artists from across Northamptonshire will have their work on display at Abington Park Museum when the annual Art in the Park exhibition opens this Saturday.

Published 10 May 2019.

Take a glimpse inside the new Northampton Museum and Art Gallery

A virtual reality (VR) tour showing parts of the new Northampton Museum and Art Gallery in Guildhall Road is now available on Northampton Borough Council’s website.

Published 09 April 2019.

Live music to return to Abington Park this spring and summer

Abington Park is set to come alive with activity this spring and summer thanks to the return of the popular Bands in the Park concerts and a full calendar of events at Abington Park Museum.

Published 02 April 2019.

Local artists invited to submit work for exhibition at Abington Park Museum

Artists from across Northamptonshire are invited to submit their work for Abington Park Museum’s annual art exhibition, which returns for its 58th year this May.

Published 04 March 2019.

Delapré stable complex lease granted

Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust will be granted a lease on the stable yard complex adjoining the main Abbey buildings, following agreement by Northampton Borough Council’s Cabinet.

Published 22 February 2019.

Fire at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery

A fire at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery on the evening of Wednesday 13 February was contained by Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Published 14 February 2019.

Veganuary Food Fair comes to Abington Park Museum

Abington Park Museum is set to host its first ever vegan food fair at the end of this month.

Published 08 January 2019.

First major works start on Northampton Museum

Work has started on demolition of a connecting bridge as the first major part of the renovation of Northampton Museum and Art Gallery.

Published 09 November 2018.

Bringing Nasty Northampton alive this half-term

Looking Glass Theatre will bring alive a series of tales from Northampton Museum’s summer exhibition at the Grosvenor Centre to keep families entertained this half term.

Published 17 October 2018.

Armistice Day centenary activities at Abington Park Museum

Activities marking the 100 year anniversary of the end of the First World War are taking place at Abington Park Museum, ahead of Armistice Day.

Published 03 October 2018.

Misplaced Northampton artist featured in art history lecture series

Northampton Museums and Art Gallery’s eighth art history lecture series will explore selected works of Ben Mathews.

Published 21 September 2018.

Museum contractor confirmed – work starts this month

Northampton Borough Council has just appointed the main contractor for its museum expansion project, with construction set to start this month.

Published 13 September 2018.

Autumn Food Fair at Abington Park Museum

Over 30 food and drink producers from Northamptonshire and beyond will showcase their culinary delights during the Autumn Food Fair on Saturday, 22 September, at the historic Abington Park Museum.

Published 10 September 2018.

Getting to the roots of Kinky Boots

A celebration of the Kinky Boots story and its roots in the Northamptonshire shoe industry will take place on Saturday, 22 September, between 10am and 12.30pm at The Guildhall.

Published 04 September 2018.

Edwardian Extravaganza at Abington Park Museum

Families will be able to step back in time at an Edwardian themed family fun day at 1pm on Saturday, 11 August, at Abington Park Museum.

Published 08 August 2018.

Discover Nasty Northampton’s gory past

A collection of gruesome, historical and hysterical stories of Northampton’s past will be on display this summer, when ‘Nasty Northampton’ opens in the Grosvenor Centre on Saturday, 21 July.

Published 17 July 2018.

Residents invited to shape new exhibition

Local residents are being invited to help shape a new exhibition for the Northampton Museum and Art Gallery which will celebrate the heritage and culture of the town.

Published 25 June 2018.

New gallery opening at Abington Park Museum

A new gallery exploring the history of Abington will be opened at Abington Park Museum on Saturday, 30 June, at 1pm, by the Mayor of Northampton, Councillor Tony Ansell.

Published 18 June 2018.

All aboard for Transport Day

Northampton Museums and Art Gallery are holding a Transport Day on Saturday, 2 June, between 1pm and 5pm at Abington Park Museum.

Published 25 May 2018.

Art in the Park exhibition opens this weekend

The 57th Art in Park exhibition will open to the public this Saturday, 12 May, at 1pm in Abington Park Museum.

Published 09 May 2018.

Share your Shoe Stories

Owners of shoes with a tale to tell are invited to a drop in event at Abington Park Museum on Saturday, 5 May, between 2.00pm and 4.00pm.

Published 01 May 2018.

Enthusiasts wanted for Transport Day

Northampton Museums and Art Gallery are calling for transport enthusiasts to display their collections at a Transport Day on Saturday, 2 June, between 1pm and 5pm at Abington Park Museum.

Published 20 April 2018.

Spring Food Fair at Abington Park Museum

Over 25 artisan food and drink producers from across the county will be showcasing their goods at the Spring Food Fair this Saturday, 21 April.

Published 18 April 2018.

Museum creates digital memories of the First World War

A First World War digital archive including images of museum objects and family stories relating to Northampton has been created by Northampton Museums and Art Gallery.

Published 12 April 2018.

A tale of Shakespeare comes to Abington Park

An unusual, 90 minute one-man show will come to Abington Park Museum next weekend as part of a wider programme of events at Abington Park.

Published 05 April 2018.

Abington Park to come alive with music and activities

The return of the popular Bands in the Park concerts and a full calendar of events at Abington Park Museum will see the town come alive with music and activities.

Published 26 March 2018.

History of Abington brought to life in new displays

Work has started on five themed gallery displays at Abington Park Museum, which tell stories of the house, park and area from Doomsday to the present day.

Published 07 February 2018.

Celebrate Burns Night at Abington Park Museum

The atmospheric 15th century Abington Park Museum will play host to Burns Night celebrations this Friday, 26 January, from 7-10pm, with bagpipes, poetry, canapés, dancing and a live ceilidh band.

Published 22 January 2018.

Influence the future of your museum service

Anyone who would like to influence the future of the museum service in Northampton has been invited to apply to be part of a consultative focus group.

Published 15 January 2018.

Museum planning application submitted

A planning application has now been submitted for a new extension which will help breathe life into the expanded Northampton Museum and Art Gallery.

Published 27 October 2017.

Wedding venue previews to showcase Abington Park Museum

Couples are being invited to take a look at Abington Park Museum as a prospective wedding venue at a series of preview events.

Published 27 September 2017.

Museum project set to move into development stage

The redevelopment of Northampton Museum and Art Gallery will soon enter the development stage.

Published 06 September 2017.

Chance for collectors to display their treasures at Abington Park Museum

Collectors from Northamptonshire are being invited to display their collections at a special one day exhibition at the newly refurbished Abington Park Museum.

Published 29 August 2017.

Northampton events commemorating Edgar Mobbs and his ‘Sportsman Army’

Centenary celebrations will be taking place in Northampton next week to commemorate the life of Edgar Mobbs, who is well known for raising his own ‘sportsman’ company after being turned down for being too old to join the Army in World War I.

Published 24 July 2017.

Annual Art in the Park exhibition opens this weekend

The 56th Art in the Park exhibition at Abington Park Museum opens this weekend on Saturday, 29 April.

Published 26 April 2017.

Call for trades to help with key heritage project

Tradespeople have been urged to volunteer on a project which will see an internationally important historical collection go on display in Northampton.

Published 26 April 2017.

Revamp starts at Northampton’s Abington Park Museum

Refurbishment work started this week at Abington Park Museum and is expected to be finished sometime in June.

Published 24 April 2017.

Northampton museum volunteers thanked for their efforts

The decant of the galleries at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery is now complete in preparation for work to start on a major expansion and refurbishment project.

Published 03 April 2017.

Volunteers needed to help Northampton Museum & Art Gallery prepare for expansion works

Northampton Museum & Art Gallery is looking for volunteers to help them get ready for the expansion work planned to start later this year.

Published 03 February 2017.

Artists invited to submit work for open air exhibition at Abington Park Museum

Northamptonshire’s artists are being invited to submit their artwork for Abington Park Museum’s popular open air art exhibition, which returns for its 56th year on 29 April.

Published 26 January 2017.

Bookings for private hire and wedding packages now available at Abington Park Museum

Historic Abington Park Museum will soon be available as an event and wedding venue.

Published 19 December 2016.

A painting from Northampton Town and County Art Society's 103rd exhibition

The work of Northamptonshire’s finest artists to be displayed in the Museum & Art Gallery

Works from some of the county’s finest artists will be on display at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery from Saturday 3 December, as part of Northampton Town & County Art Society’s 103rd exhibition.

Published 29 November 2016.

Frederick Hall's oil painting titled Experienced Hands - The art of the shoemaker

Experienced Hands exhibition to give insight into traditional shoemaking

A new exhibition, titled Experienced Hands – the Art of the Shoe Maker, is opening at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery on Saturday 12 November.

Published 11 November 2016.

Northampton Borough Council to consider creating museum trust

A report by the Borough Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee into setting up a trust to run the Council’s museums will be considered by Cabinet when it meets next week.

Published 09 November 2016.

Bassett lowke trains have already been confirmed for the Collectors' Day at Abington Park Museum in October

Hidden treasures needed for Collectors’ Day Exhibition

Collectors from Northampton and beyond are being invited to display their collections at a special one day exhibition at Abington Park Museum next month.

Published 14 September 2016.

An exhibition of the life and times of TL Shoosmith is being held at Nprthampton Museum and Art Gallery this September

Life and work of Northampton artist to be celebrated at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery

Published 31 August 2016.

Northampton Marks Somme Centenary

A programme of events will be taking place in Northampton to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme.

Published 24 May 2016.

"LOOKING IN WONDERLAND" - A Special Exhibition at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery

Some of the most famous illustrations in the world will be brought to Northampton Museum & Art Gallery from Saturday 30 April – 13 June 2016.

Published 25 April 2016.

Chris Fiddes artwork donation and event comes to Northampton Museum and Art Gallery

Northampton Museum and Art Gallery will be running an event on 28 April following the donation of a painting by celebrated local artist Chris Fiddes.

Published 05 April 2016.

“Making History”: learning disabilities exhibition at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery

Northampton Museum and Art Gallery will welcome an exciting new exhibition from The Cube Disability on Saturday 12 March.

Published 09 March 2016.

Significant artwork donated to Northampton Museum & Art Gallery

Northampton Museum and Art Gallery has been gifted a significant donation of a painting by the family of successful artist Roberta Booth.

Published 03 February 2016.

Where your wellies can take you

As part of their “Give it Some Welly” exhibition, Northampton Museum & Art Gallery are promoting the “Where your wellies can take you” countryside initiative.

Published 25 January 2016.

Northampton Museum and Art Gallery to open on 20 June 2020