Planning a visit

Teachers are strongly encouraged to visit the Museum and plan how to make the best of the resources available before bringing a party.

Staff are always pleased to answer questions. If you wish to discuss your needs in greater detail, please phone 020 8509 1917 to make an appointment.

Please note the following

  • The maximum number that can be accommodated at any one time is 35. Many larger groups have, however, successfully combined a visit to Vestry House with a look around the historic Walthamstow village conservation area, by splitting the group in two
  • As gallery space is limited, all visits must be booked at least two weeks in advance. A member of staff can give a short introductory tour of the museum, with particular reference to its history as a workhouse and police station, the Bremer Car and the Victorian Parlour
  • Given the size and layout of the museum, a minimum of one adult helper to every ten children is required
  • The Museum shop sells postcards, maps, souvenirs, booklets of historical interest and a history of Vestry House. Please ensure parties are supervised when making their purchases
  • For safety and convenience, all visitors are required to abide by the Museum regulations, copies of which are on display in the entrance. Eating or drinking is not allowed in the Museum

Local studies library and archives

The local studies library and Waltham Forest archives are also based at Vestry House. Their extensive collections range from medieval manorial documents to twentieth-century factory records and includes such material as school log books, maps, directories, books, pamphlets and local newspapers. The collections can be used to illustrate many aspects of local and national history.

Access to the Archives and Local Studies Library is strictly by appointment and we would ask teachers to bear this in mind when advising their students to make use of these facilities. Appointments can be made by telephoning: 020 8509 1917 and are held on:

Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
10am-1pm and 2pm-5.15pm

Saturdays
10am-1pm and 2pm-4.45pm

A brief history of the museum

  • 1730 Vestry House, a two storey building, is constructed as a workhouse by order of the Vestry
  • 1730-1830 Used as a Workhouse and Vestry meeting room
  • 1840-1870 Used as Police Station and Vestry meeting room
  • 1870-1930 Private housing, armoury, builder's yard
  • 1931 Opened as a museum

Permanent exhibits

  • Toys and games gallery
  • Hearth and home gallery (Victorian and Edwardian household items)
  • Costumes
  • Victorian police history including police cell
  • Bremer Car, built 1892-94
  • Made in Waltham Forest gallery

Local attractions

Walthamstow Village

Walthamstow Village was designated a conservation area in December 1967; the first area in Waltham Forest to be designated.

A visit to the museum could be combined with a tour of the village. A guide book of the Village is available for purchase from the Vestry House Museum Shop. Also available, is a free leaflet about the Walthamstow Village conservation area.

Key buildings

  • Monoux Almshouses Grade II Listed
    Built in 1527 by George Monoux as Almshouses, school and feast hall
  • St Mary's Church Grade II Listed
    In existence by the twelfth century, St Mary's is the original parish Church of Walthamstow although much altered over the centuries. William Morris was baptised here on 25 July 1834
  • Former St Mary's Infant School
    Now known as the Welcome Centre, this building was erected by Rev William Wilson in 1824 and used as a preparatory school
  • Squires' Almshouses Grade II Listed
    Erected in 1795 by Mrs Mary Squires to house six 'decayed' tradesmen's widows of the parish
  • Vestry House Museum Grade II Listed
    Erected in 1730 for use as a workhouse and for Vestry Meetings. It was also used as a police station, armoury and builder's yard before becoming a museum in 1931
  • The Ancient House Grade II Listed
    A 15th Century timber framed 'hall house', probably on the site of the original Walthamstow Toni manor house

To assist school teachers there is a wide range of local publications, replica toys and school slates available for purchase in the museum shop.