Our Mission Statement

We build a sense of pride in Slough. We develop imaginative and inclusive programming, displays and encourage people to share their stories and knowledge of Slough as a place of pioneers and innovators.

We are the only organisation in Slough that has a remit to collect, conserve and communicate the town’s heritage. We explore and celebrate Slough’s past, present and future.

What we want to be famous for? 

Giving people a reason to fall in love with Slough.

Our overarching sense of purpose

We share a vision of building community cohesion.

We aim to develop a sense that, with all of Slough’s ethnic and socioeconomic diversity – we are one community.

We will do this by developing and using our collections to engage and enthuse.

 Our core values

We welcome and value input from across the community – always striving to enhance community cohesion.

We believe in taking a Pioneering approach to developing and running the museum, in keeping with the pioneering nature of Slough itself.

We are passionate about discovering, preserving and sharing the story of Slough and the surrounding districts and their rich heritage.

Our museum’s personality 

Welcoming and accessible.

Collaborative.

Open / outward looking.

Colourful and fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Find out how to get involved and learn about individual volunteer experiences and benefits of volunteering.

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Our Places

The museum has occupied a number of locations since its foundation:

Leeds Cottage, Bath Road

1982 to 1997

  • registered as a Charity on 19 July 1982, and with the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (then the Museums and Galleries Commission) in July 1998 (RD977)
  • the museum began collecting in 1985 and first opened its doors to the public on 30 April 1986
  • Slough Borough Council took back the building in April 1997, but provided an alternative venue on the High Street, which was more accessible to the public

278-286 High Street

1997 to 2011

  • the museum had two exhibition galleries, which celebrated Slough’s past, present and future as well as a research and activity room
  • we registered as a Limited Company on 4 September 2000
  • we achieved full accreditation as a museum under the revised scheme in November 2006
  • Slough Museum closed at these premises on 11 June 2011

Slough Central Library

2011 to 2016

  • the museum reopened on 26 October 2011
  • the library closed in August 2016
  • Slough Museum istransferring to the Curve in September 2016.

72 Buckingham Avenue

Today

  • Slough Museum is currently situated at the Slough Trading Estate, courtesy of SEGRO. The new site is spacious, housing both the collection and the exhibition space. It also offers plenty of free parking space for our visitors and is in the proximity of cafes, shops, parks and public transport.

About Slough

The whole world comes to Slough. Every year thousands of people arrive in the town from across the globe hoping to make a fresh start and a better life. It is a hugely plural population and sometimes very transient – distinctive as the most ethnically diverse local authority area outside London.

Slough is traditionally seen as lacking an historical past of any note. However, dig deeper and notable statistics include 96 listed buildings; Herschel Park, previously part of Upton Park and Slough’s oldest park with roots going back to the 11th century, notable residents such as William and Caroline Herschel and the name Slough (meaning ‘soil’) first recorded in 1195.

More recently, the 2011 census records indicate the most diverse population outside of a London borough with communities representing 80 different countries. 50% of pupils in Slough schools do not have English as their first language. Migration to Slough from the 20th century onwards has seen Welsh, Polish, Asian, Caribbean and more recently Somalian and Romanian settlers making their homes and creating communities in Slough.

The population of 140,000 people has significantly higher than average numbers of young children and young adults, with over 40% of the population identifying as Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse (the south-east average is 10%).

In addition, 40,000 people come in to Slough each day to work. Slough has the largest number of FTSE 100 companies in any UK town and SEGRO plc owns the largest trading estate in Europe in Slough, celebrating their centenary in 2020.

The opening of Crossrail and large-scale investment in housing and infrastructure will establish Slough as an attractive place to live, and Slough Museum is a key part of the town being a vibrant destination for culture.