Our fully illustrated, A5 32 page booklet which complements the exhibition is now available at the Museum, priced at £4.
Our website is regularly updated, with new material being added all the time.
- The museum’s October 2026 calendar page is available now as is the October 2026 jigsaw of the month.
- Updated schedule of Potters Bar And District Historical Society Talks
- More information of the October Regular Talk (see below)
- Expanded Historical Photograph Section
Potters Bar and District Historical Society – Regular Talks
The next regular talk is on Monday October 19th at our regular venue, the United Reformed Church, 245 Darkes Lane EN6 1BZ (car parking available and also nearby).
The meetings provide a varied informative evening with both local and nationwide talks of historical interest featured.
Refreshments are available, entrance is a modest £1.00 for members and £2 for non-member visitors.
We have a busy and interesting programme of talks lined up going into 2027. Full list of talks here.
Non members most welcome!
About The Potters Bar Museum
Potters Bar Museum tells the story of the growth of Potters Bar from a tiny village on the Great North Road to the thriving present day town. The museum opened in 1990 and offers a delightful nostalgic collection of items relating to Potters Bar and the local area. It is in one of the earliest known sites of interest in the area, facing the timber-framed Wyllyotts Manor, part of which dates back to the 14th century (now used as a restaurant and a public house). We believe that the site has been occupied since the Iron Age – and certainly since Roman times
What’s on display?
The Museum includes pottery items and other artefacts which were found during the construction of the Wyllyotts Centre and allow visitors to relive some of the history of the place. There are some natural history items, including fossils, geological specimens such as Hertfordshire puddingstone and Mesolithic stone implements used by the earliest known inhabitants. A collection of Roman silver coins found as a treasure hoard in the district is on display together with examples of Roman clay ware made in a kiln excavated in the Parkfield open space in the 1950s. The Museum also contains many items from other sites in and around Potters Bar and from the motte-and-bailey castle at South Mimms – which for many years lay unrecognised or forgotten.
For more information of the exhibits go to our A tour around our Museum page.
Featured Collections
In addition, the Museum has an Exhibition mounted twice a year – find out more on the Events page.
Permanent Collections
The largest display relates to the Zeppelin L31, shot down over Potters Bar in 1916, showing a number of relics from the destruction of this First World War terror weapon. For more, click here. There is also a fascinating collection of novelty telephones ranging from 19th century to latest novelty types: some are in working order, and you are welcome you to touch!
Group Tours and Lectures
Tours to explain the collections and exhibition can be arranged for schools and groups by arrangement with our education officer Click hereKeep In Touch
News of the museum can also be found on our Facebook page!
The Wyllyotts Centre just off Darkes Lane Potters Bar
Address Wyllyotts Centre Wyllyotts Place Darkes Lane Potters Bar EN6 2HN
Opening Hours Tuesday 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm Wednesday 2.30 pm – 4.30 pm Saturday 11.00 am – 1.00pm (Subject to Wyllylotts centre being open).
We can organise special visits for groups when the museum is closed, click here to contact our education officer.
Admission Free
Parking Public pay-and-display car parks at Wyllyotts
Phone with message service 07856 513841
How to find us
We are a short walk from Potters Bar Railway station where a number of buses (84,242,243,298,313,626) also stop.
We are under 10 minutes drive from Junction 24 of the M25.
For more detailed information of how to get here and the facilities we offer, please look at our Accessibility page.
Potters Bar and District Historical Society
The Museum stewards are all volunteers from the Potters Bar and District Historical Society, and which is a registered charity (no. 1200797). Hertsmere Borough Council provides the Museum accommodation and also grant-aids most of the running costs. As well as running the Museum, the PBDHS runs monthly evening meetings on a variety of historic topics every year from September through to July. They are held in the United Reform Church, Darkes Lane, Potters Bar, EN6 1BZ.
Details and dates are listed on our Events page.
Volunteers
The museum is run entirely by volunteers and wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for members of our community who give their time freely. We always need more volunteers so if you able to give up a few hours a month/week or occasionally, we would love your help. There is a surprising variety of activities on offer, so whatever your skills or personality, there is something for everyone volunteering at one of our museums. Our volunteer team is a friendly and welcoming bunch. Whether you are looking to make new friends, or to add a new skill to your CV, there are many different ways to get involved:
- Front of house welcoming visitors to the museum and helping them get the most of their visit
- Cataloguing objects to helping with displays
- Researching our past by delving into our archives to find the hidden stories
- Creating and updating our online content
- Helping to research, design and curate temporary exhibitions
- Helping to keep the museum safe and looking at its best
- Facilitating school visits and helping families get the most out of the museum and our events.
Our marvellous volunteers bring our local history to life. We are so proud of what they have achieved. If you’d like to volunteer, please come and see us at the Museum or click here to contact us. Our stewards are on hand to help with any history enquiry as well as welcoming your stories and reminiscences and provide assistance in identifying objects.
