General Information
Cultural collections description
The Museum of London tells the history of the London region.
In prehistory, the migrations of peoples are reflected by the collections, with Celtic and continental influences. The Roman collection has material from the areas of the Roman Empire, the main supply areas for people as well as goods. In like manner, the arrival of the Saxons, Vikings and Normans helped to create London as the cultural melting pot of the English nation. As the centre of international trade from the 14th century onwards, new goods were introduced from Scandinavia, Europe and Islamic artefacts from Iberia, Egypt and Syria, and even a rare example of a bronze vessel fragment from Japan. The Museum of London has the best collection of medieval and post-medieval lead cloth seals in the world (attached to bales of cloth by importers) indicating the mercantile expansion which by the mid 16th century was laying the foundations of the British Empire and bringing a complete range of objects and materials into the Capital. The Cheapside Hoard, a group of over 400 items of jewellery that must have been the stock of a working goldsmith in the early 17th century, encapsulates this expansion as the source of the gemstones provide a graphic picture of the trade networks of the time. By 1700, London had become the largest city in Europe and an emporium for international trade.
The Museum also holds the collections of Thomas Layton and William Lloyd, both 19th-century collectors who amassed collections both with London provenances but also ethnographic items (521 items). The Museum of London holds these collections on ‘permanent’ loan from Brentford and Richmond Public Libraries. These collections are dominated by tools and particularly weapons with a preponderance of material from North America (stone arrowheads) and over one hundred items from Africa (mostly spears). Much of the material, however, seems to have been produced for the tourist market and is deemed to be of general, rather than specialist, interest. A few items are intrinsically interesting: a bronze copy of a Maori stone hand-axe, made in London, dated 1772 and taken by Captain Cook on his second and third expeditions – of the one hundred made, only 6 seem to have survived in museums; Inuit artefacts and bowls from north-west coast of America and a quantity of Australasian material.
The post-1700 collections include dress, paintings, photographs, social and working history, port and river related objects, archives and printed ephemera. The city’s long history of international trading means the Museum has many historic objects relating to overseas goods and products. These relate to most countries around the world, but particularly those with former Empire and Commowealth links. The historic collections also reflect long-standing connections with European countries and communities – Dutch and Jewish merchants, bankers and painters, Huguenot manufacturers, German clock makers, French dress and luxury goods. In recent years there has been more active collecting of material reflecting London’s post-war black and minority ethnic communities and individuals. The oral history collection has been at the forefront of this, and now includes the lifestories of individuals from a great range of cultural backgrounds, including recent refugee communities. The specialist collections of dress, paintings and photography are broadening their scope and have been actively building up their holdings of work by black or minority ethnic artists and designers. Other contemporary collecting projects, particularly the Collecting 2000 project, have added to the collection a number of day to day objects and religious artefacts relating to black and minority ethnic community groups.
Viewing: The Early London Galleries and collections demonstrate the wealth of these worldwide contacts but the Layton and Lloyd collections are not displayed, since they are not directly relevant to London's story. They are, however, available on request and with due notice.
View detailed collections record >
African
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Asian
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Asian: Bangladeshi
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Asian: Chinese
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Asian: Japanese
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Caribbean
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Central & South America
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Cross-cultural
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Eastern Europe
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Near & Middle East: Kurdish
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North America
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North, West & Southern Europe
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North, West & Southern Europe: French
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North, West & Southern Europe: German
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North, West & Southern Europe: Greeks
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North, West & Southern Europe: Italian
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North, West & Southern Europe: Spanish
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North, West & Southern Europe: Travelling Communities
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Oceania
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Oceania: Australian
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Oceania: New Zealander
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Religious Group
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Religious Group: Islam
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Religious Group: Jewish
General Information
Brochure or leaflet available with directions to museum
Pre-booking service for groups
Foreign language leaflet or brochure available
Collections
General guide to collections available
Specialist publications on collections available
Object identification and/or written enquiry service
Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)
Disability Access
Audio guides specifically for blind and partially sighted people
Parking for disabled available
Toilets for disabled
Touch exhibits and/or handling sessions
Wheelchair access to all public areas
Wheelchair access to some public areas
Wheelchairs available for loan
Children and Families
Activities for pre-school children
Baby changing facilities
Events and resources for children and families
General Education
Academic publications and resources available
Adult lectures and courses held
Education facilities available
Member of staff available with responsibility for education
Reception and lunch facilities for educational groups
Teaching/resources available for HE/FE students
Schools Education
Direct teaching services for schools
Primary school education service available
Printed/audio-visual information available for schools
Secondary school education service available
Facilities
Meeting room available
Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)
Restaurant
Shop
Study facilities
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