Eden Valley Museum celebrates 25 years!

During 2025 the Eden Valley Museum will be celebrating its 25^th Anniversary

The birth of the idea for a museum grew from a meeting in 1994 to discuss ideas for celebrating the Centenary of Edenbridge Town Council, along with an exhibition held by the Edenbridge & District Historical Society that followed in 1995.

By the autumn of 1995, a Museum Feasibility Group had been set up and research began to find a suitable location for a new museum. Three sites were considered before Church House, a former medieval farmhouse owned by Edenbridge Town Council, was chosen.

The cost of renovating the building was enabled by a Heritage Lottery Grant whilst a construction team was formed by Ken Cooper, a former contracts manager at Leighs Builders. Along with many former colleagues including Dennis Leigh and Bob Orridge who became actively involved in fitting out the museum and building displays.

On the 24^th June 2000, the museum was officially opened by local historian, Alan Dell, with a parade down the High Street organised by Jane Higgs, involving local residents, local schools, and other groups depicting local history down the ages from Romans to the present day.

The museum was the inspiration of local residents, who brought it to a reality; local residents manage and run the museum for the community, meet and greet visitors and share their knowledge and enthusiasm about the local area.  Many objects in the collection having been donated by local families, and through the ensuing years, exhibitions have celebrated many of our local organisations such as the Bonfire Society, Town Band and Rotary Club, along with many national and global events.

In June 2025 we will be celebrating our anniversary with new exhibitions and a celebratory event (more details to to be announced).

The museum will re-open on Saturday 1^st February  with another chance for visitors to see the ‘Healthcare in our Town’ and ‘Story of Bough Beech’ exhibitions, Edenbridge Crested China display, and other new and refurbished displays.

www.evmt.org.uk | 72 High Street, Edenbridge, TN8 5AR