About
Ashby de la Zouch Museum

A small, volunteer-run museum with full Accreditation Status by Arts Council England

We started in a small cottage...

Ashby Museum was established in 1982 in a small cottage on Lower Church Street. In 1991 it relocated to its present home in North Street, where it shares the old National School building with the town Library. In 2006-7, thanks to a major Heritage Lottery Fund Grant, a two storey extension was added. The museum is a Registered Charity and is entirely volunteer-led, run by a group of trustees supported by around 70 volunteers.

In July 2007, and again in July 2010, the museum won Museum of the Year in Leicestershire. We work closely with the county Museum Service and other independent museums in the area, sharing expertise and artefacts.

Ashby Museum gains national recognition

In December 2008, Ashby-de-la-Zouch Museum was awarded Full Accreditation Status by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (now Arts Council England). Museum Accreditation is a UK-wide industry standard that shows we care for our collections, make them accessible to audiences and safeguard our history and heritage for the future. Accreditation is the benchmark for well-run museums and galleries. It means that we operate to professional industry standards, care for our collections and make them accessible for visitors.

In order to qualify for accreditation, museums must show that they are striving to extend access to new audiences, encourage learning and inspire people’s creativity.

Some of the many ways in which Ashby Museum does this include:

• Talks and evening classes on a variety of topics
• Holiday activities for children and young people
• Guided walks
• Special events for the local community
• Research facilities for local and family historians
• Its own publications

In 2010 Ashby Museum was chosen as one of a handful of museums in the whole country to take part in a Pilot Scheme to prepare for Accreditation Mark 2. It became one of four museums in the whole UK – and the only volunteer-run one – to gain the new Accreditation Status in November 2011.

As of 2023 we are proud to have once again renewed our Full Accreditation Status with Arts Council England. Our ability to retain our status for over 15 years is a credit to the hard work and dedication of our volunteers.

Fundamental to our success has been the 30 year-long partnership with Ashby Town Council, both financial and social. The Council’s consistent support ensures the Museum can plan ahead, knowing its future is secure.

We are also thankful to our patron, Simon Abney Hastings, 15th Earl of Loudoun, and our local sponsors who have made contributions to the museum in recent years, including Blue Sky, Kangaroo UK, Plastribution, and more.

If you’d like to support the museum, please get in touch via enquiries@ashbymuseum.org.uk to discuss potential sponsorship or partnership opportunities.