The museum is now temporarily closed in preparation for our revitalisation project. We will reopen in early 2026 with new displays from our collection.
The Bremer car
One of our star exhibits is the Bremer car. Built locally by engineer Frederick Bremer in 1892, it is one of the claimants to being the oldest British-built petrol driven car. It must have been a curious sight on the streets of Walthamstow. A speed limit of just four miles per hour was imposed by a man walking in front of the vehicle at all times carrying a red flag.
Victorian parlour
One of the rooms at the museum has been set up to reconstruct a typical local parlour from about 1890.
Walthamstow Tea Service
Little is known about the origins of this set of cups, saucers and bowls other than it was produced in the 1820s for a local well-to-do family. Many of the items depict local houses and because of this it has become known as the Walthamstow Tea Service. A selection from the set is permanently on display.
The police cell
As Vestry House once housed a police station the museum has made use of this in its exhibitions. One of the cells still exists with its original bench and toilet and in this area we have recreated a scene from April 1861.
We know that on this evening Sgt. Charles Carpenter was on duty whilst James Wright, a local labourer, had been arrested for being drunk and disorderly. During a visit you may be “lucky” enough to experience the fate of James Wright by being locked in the cell.
Domestic life
The Domestic Life gallery looks at utensils used for washing, ironing, cooking and for serving food during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Toys and games
Discover some of the toys that were being played with or manufactured in Waltham Forest during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Photographic Collection
The museum has an extensive collection of photographic prints, negatives, lantern slides and postcards dating back to the 1860s, consisting of about 80,000 images. This represents a valuable local and national resource which continues to be developed with the addition of both recent and historical material.
The photographic collection is now held at Waltham Forest Archives, Chingford Assembly Hall, The Green, Station Road, London E4 7EN. Access is by prior appointment only. Please contact us for further information and to book your visit, giving some information about your research topic. Email: [email protected]
A selection of photos of the borough is available on our Borough Photos page. You can look at these images (with a watermark) free of charge. For a fee you can order them as prints.
The Workhouse
Between 1730 and 1841 Vestry House was a parish workhouse. Conditions were harsh and it was a place of last resort for many. Yet for people who were unemployed, sick, elderly or pregnant, or for the orphaned children who lived there, it provided a place of refuge when there was nowhere else to turn. This gallery uncovers what daily life was like for the poor and destitute who ended up in Walthamstow’s workhouse, as well as those who tried to help them.
The Garden
The beautiful planting is inspired by the garden’s history as an eighteenth-century workhouse garden, with an emphasis on useful plants including vegetables, herbs and dye plants. There is also a wild meadow area and a bed designed to attract butterflies.
The garden is maintained by an active group of dedicated volunteers.