Our History

Croydon Museum service was established by the London Borough of Croydon in 1989. The service inherited several existing collections; the Croydon Art Collection, the Riesco collection of Chinese ceramics; and approximately 700 objects of local and social interest including archaeological finds. Between 1989 and 1995 the museum service actively collected oral histories and related social and cultural objects. This collection formed the basis of the Lifetimes Gallery which opened in 1995 at the Croydon Clocktower. In line with lifetimes, in 1994 a handling collection was established to be put for community outreach and education projects. In September 2006, after refurbishment, the Museum of Croydon opened with a new name and told the story of Croydon from ‘Then’ to ‘Now’.

Today the Riesco collection is on permanent display with featured archaeological finds in addition to this the museum has three temporary exhibition spaces.

The museum wishes to make a difference. We seek to provide a space to celebrate our diversity and to explore how Croydon unites us. Our collections and spaces will represent every aspect of Croydon; as a place, a culture and an identity, in its own right that challenges perceptions through empowering communities to answer that all-important question ‘What’s your Croydon?’