The news for February 2026 from Rushden Museum is an update on our normal routine. Our Thursday work days have continued throughout February with most of the time being taken up by planning and organising this year’s exhibition. We have been getting items out of the store and working on the displays. Some material has been printed and pinned on the walls, so it is all starting to come together. The painter has been in and smartened us up a bit, although there will probably be more to do when we get a bit more organised. There is still a way to go and a lot to think about, but we are making progress. It seemed as if we had made an early start and would have plenty of time, but the weeks go by so quickly no doubt we will end up in panic mode as usual.
Our exhibition for this year is entitled ‘Raise a Glass to My Old China,’ and features glass and china items from our collection, and also includes so many more artefacts to complement them.
Empire Jubilee Cream Maker – one of the items on display
Stone hot water bottle by George Mence Smith – another item on display
Cup and saucer with the Rushden crest
Plate from the Park Road Wesleyan Church
A painting of Rushden Hall by Maitland Sartoris
3 generations of the Sartoris family – April 1898
We have been advised that our work-experience student will join us, with his work coach, on March 12, so we have started thinking about the work we can give him to do. We have arranged for our IT man to come on 19 March to update the screens and sort a couple of things on the computer for us, and we have started planning the AGM but haven’t been able to confirm a date yet. Hopefully, it’s all coming together.
Our social media pages continue to do well. We have over 650 followers on Facebook and over 1000 followers on Instagram. The most popular photo on Facebook for February was Rushden Hall when it was home to the Sartoris family and on Instagram the iron foot bridge at Rushden Station.
Rushden Hall – home of the Sartoris family
The footbridge at Rushden Station