Into Autumn 2025
New Temporary Displays
Our large display case features an array of hats from the 19th and 20th Centuries with the addition of many hats you can try on for fun and gaze into the mirror!
From November 29th, an exhibition detailing the draining of the Fens in relation to Chatteris with many photographs, tools, documents and maps.
The display narrates an overall background to the draining of the Fens featuring the key participates, King Charles I, 4th Earl of Bedford and the 13 ‘Adventurers’, all of whom invested in Cornelius Vermuyden’s plan to improve access to the land. The greater part of the display centres on how the drainage plans affected the landscape around Chatteris, the improvement to summer pastures, the loss of the River Ouse tributary known as the West Water which also resulted in the loss of the ferry towards Somersham. The resources of the fenland landscape are detailed with methods of hunting and fishing. One cabinet explains the digging of peat for fuel with spade and beckett. Many tools are exhibited so you can view slubbers and hodders.
Also in November, an exhibition illustrating the pubs and beer houses of Chatteris, so far we are up to about 50+ and counting! A map of the town marks all the known beer houses and pubs.
For December only, a small exhibition in Gallery 4 featuring the history of Chatteris Christmas Lights as they enter their 40th year.
Other displays currently feature:
The Roman settlement on Langwood with many objects found over the years.
History Beneath Our Feet features many objects relating to the first settlers on the island of Chatteris.
Ice Age fossils and bones of the animals that roamed the landscape around Chatteris.
Fenland Skating. A popular display illustrating the winter activities on fen and drain
Volunteers are working hard on finishing two new public galleries in the courtyard which are due to open in March 2026. These galleries will focus on trade and industry in the town plus the newly recreated model railway of Chatteris, which sadly had to be completely dismantled during the move to Park Street. Watch trains pass through Chatteris Station as if was in the 1950s and 60s.
The museum will close for the winter on Saturday 20th December to reopen on February 7th 2026.
Chatteris Museum 