The museum is open and has returned to its normal operating hours as of 02/09/25
History of the museum
Potters Bar Museum tells the story of the growth of Potters Bar from a tiny village on the Great North Road, to the thriving present day town. The museum opened in 1990 and offers a delightful nostalgic jumble of items relating to Potters Bar and the local area. It is on one of the earliest known sites of interest in the area, facing the timber-framed Wyllyotts Manor, part of which dates back to the 14th century (now used as a restaurant and a public house). There is reason to believe that the site has been occupied since the Iron Age and certainly Roman times.
What's on display
The museum contains much pottery and artefacts which were found during the construction of the Wyllyotts Centre and allows visitors to relive some of the history of the place.
It also contains many items from other sites in and around Potters Bar and from the motte-and-bailey castle at South Mimms, which for many years lay unrecognised or forgotten.
Some natural history items are also on display, together with fossils, geological specimens like Hertfordshire Pudding Stones, and a selection of Mesolithic stone implements used by the earliest known inhabitants. Featured collections include a wide range of novelty telephones and relics of the Zeppelin L31 which was shot down over Potters Bar in 1916.
Check out the website to see what's on!
In addition, the museum has a changing temporary display every six months. Our current exhibition is about Potters Bar in WWII, focussing on bringing local wartime stories to light. Please come along and see artefacts, photographs and memories from the period.
Display Update: The Museum is currently in the progress of updating their main display boards. The museum will continue to be open at this time, but when you come to visit you may notice a few new additions or volunteers working hard on cleaning up and preparing for the new boards. Some of the new boards will cover topics such as The Victorians, WW1, The Anarchy, The Three Kings and Admiral Bing. If there are any boards that you have a particular fondness for we encourage you to come sooner rather than later to see them before they are changed over the next six months. The new boards will not be a complete departure from previous content but aim to give the museum a refreshed, modern new look! Have a look below at the first of the new boards on the infamous 1916 Zeppelin Crash in Potters Bar:
Volunteering
The museum is run entirely by volunteers and wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for members of our community who give their time freely.
We always need more volunteers so if you have a few hours a month/week or occasionally to spare, we would love your help. There is a surprising variety of activities on offer, so whatever your skills or personality, there is something for everyone volunteering at one of our museums.
Our volunteer team is a friendly and welcoming bunch. Whether you are looking to make new friends, or to add a new skill to your CV, there are many different ways to get involved:
- Front of house welcoming visitors to the museum and helping them get the most of their visit
- Cataloguing and Researching our past by delving into our archives to find the hidden stories
- Creating and updating our online content
- Helping to research, design and curate temporary exhibitions
- Helping to keep the museum safe and looking at its best
- Facilitating school visits and helping families get the most out of the museum and our events
Our marvellous volunteers bring our local history to life. We are so proud of what they have achieved.
If you'd like to volunteer, please read our Volunteer handbook or contact the museum.
- volunteer handbookpdf file[2.69MB]
Get in touch
The museum volunteers offer group tours and lectures by arrangement.
Check out the latest information and get in touch via the Potters Bar Museum Facebook page.
Email us about your queries, historical questions, bookings, memberships or orders. Find the right email address using our Contact Us page on the website.
Potters Bar Museum
Opening hours:
- Tuesdays 2:30pm-4:30pm
- Wednesdays 2:30pm-4:30pm
- Saturdays 11:00am-1:00pm*
*Subject to the Wyllyotts being open, please check Facebook for weekly changes
Parking:
Public pay and display car parks at Wyllyotts
Admission:
Free