The Chatteris Museum

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The Chatteris museum, began in 1942 by a idea of Mr. Charles Dobbs, Clerk to the Council, which constituted a small glass cabinet in a corner of the now historic Urban District Council headquarters in Grove House, Chatteris, that was purchased by them at the princely sum of £1300 in 1939.

In 1963 the museum that had been described by the Chatteris Advertiser, a local newspaper, as 'The Smallest Museum In The Country' was officially opened with a complete room full of exhibits.

Response was great and soon there was enough exhibits to fill four rooms and permission was granted to house the museum in the top floor due to being vacant since the end of the Army occupation in World War 2.

The Urban District Council supplied materials and a dedicated band of helpers transformed the dilapidated area in preparation for the proud day on 12th November 1963 when it was officially opened by the Chairman Of The Council - Mr Harold Heading, with Mr Douglas Stone as it's curator, from whose book these words were used from.

The museum in it's present stage is still run by a small and dedicated group of helpers who give their time freely in order to preserve the history of the town.

The location is now at the old doctor's surgery in Church Lane who would be most welcome to receive any documents or physical memorabilia of the town.

They may be contacted via Chatteris Museum, 14 Church Lane, Chatteris, PE16 6JA or via email at chatteris.museum@lineone.net