School and Group Visits to Curtis Museum
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100 Million Years of History
Explore 100 million years of Hampshire heritage at the Curtis Museum. Discover Anglo-Saxon treasures, English Civil War relics, and historic toys during an inspiring trip.
Anglo-Saxon Treasures
Examine the world-famous 6th-century Alton Buckle, a masterpiece of Anglo-Saxon craftsmanship. Youngsters inspect intricate gold and silver metalwork while discovering how early settlers lived and traded in Hampshire.
Fascinating museum featuring Anglo-Saxon treasures, Civil War relics, and 100 million years of local historyEducation Destination
Situated in the bustling market town of Alton, the Curtis Museum offers an extraordinary historical venue for school residential stays. The museum houses one of the finest local history collections in Hampshire, tracing 100 million years of regional life from prehistoric times through to the modern era.
A visit enriches classroom projects across key curriculum themes including Prehistoric, Stone Age / Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Romans, Anglo-Saxons, English Civil War, Victorians, World War I, World War II, Local History, Agriculture, Food & Healthy Living, Fossils, Rocks & Soils, and Changes Within Living Memory.
Youngsters can marvel at the world-famous 6th-century Alton Buckle, inspect Civil War armour from the Battle of Alton, and explore vintage toys and hop-picking equipment. Interactive discovery trails and search-and-find activities keep pupils actively engaged throughout the galleries.
With dedicated learning resources, friendly museum staff, and easy town-centre connections, the Curtis Museum fits seamlessly into any school itinerary. It delivers an inspiring blend of hands-on historical discovery, local heritage, and group fun for every pupil.
English Civil War
Discover the dramatic story of the Battle of Alton in 1643. Youngsters inspect authentic Civil War armour, weapons, and musket balls while learning about Royalist defences and the fierce fighting at St Lawrence's Church.
Vintage Toys & Childhood
Step back in time to explore Victorian and 20th-century childhood. Pupils handle historic toys, compare Victorian games with modern entertainment, and discover how everyday family life has changed across generations.
Rural Hampshire Life
Explore Alton's rich agricultural heritage through historic hop-picking equipment, blacksmith tools, and trade displays. Youngsters learn how local farming communities lived, worked, and supplied regional markets.
Interactive Quiz Trails
Engaging search-and-find quiz sheets challenge students to discover hidden details across the galleries. Working in small groups, youngsters solve historical clues, complete sketches, and uncover 100 million years of history.
Agriculture, Food & Healthy Living
Exhibits detailing local hop picking, traditional farming implements, and rural Hampshire agricultural life showcase how regional food production and rural working routines operated.
Bronze Age
Displaying locally excavated prehistoric metalwork, spearheads, and tools, the museum allows pupils to explore Bronze Age technology, craftsmanship, and early human settlement in Hampshire.
Changes Within Living Memory
Exhibits covering 20th-century domestic life, historic toys, local shops, and childhood memories allow pupils to compare everyday routines, technology, and social shifts across recent generations.
English Civil War
Highlighting the famous Battle of Alton in 1643 and the last stand of Royalist Colonel Richard Boles in St Lawrence's Church, the museum provides a vivid link to Civil War history.
Iron Age
Exhibits featuring the famous Alton Hoard of Iron Age coins and local Celtic artefacts allow pupils to investigate pre-Roman trade, coinage, tribal life, and craftsmanship.
Local History
As Alton's principal local history museum, the venue details 100 million years of regional history, from prehistoric origins through hop growing and market town life to modern times.
Prehistoric Era
Showcasing flint tools, fossil remains, and ancient artefacts uncovered around Alton, the museum traces human activity and environmental changes from early prehistory through the metal ages.
Romans
Displaying Roman pottery, coins, building tiles, and household objects discovered in surrounding Hampshire sites, the museum illustrates Roman rural life, trade, and local settlements.
Saxons
Housing the world-famous 6th-century Alton Buckle—a masterpiece of early Anglo-Saxon craftsmanship—the museum offers pupils an outstanding link to Saxon metalwork, burial customs, and regional history.
Stone Age / Neolithic
Exhibits featuring knapped flint axes, arrowheads, and early tools allow pupils to explore Stone Age hunter-gatherer survival, toolmaking techniques, and early farming transitions.
Victorians
Detailing 19th-century market town life, local hop picking industries, Victorian toys, and regional trades, the museum gives pupils a rich insight into Victorian Hampshire communities.
World War I
Exhibits covering local enlistment, home front support, wartime hospital work, and community sacrifices showcase the impact of the Great War on Alton and surrounding villages.
World War II
Detailing local rationing, air-raid precautions, evacuees hosted in Hampshire, and wartime community life, the museum illustrates local civilian experiences during the Second World War.
