Our history
The 1990s
During early 1990s, many small museums in Northamptonshire were founded by groups of dedicated volunteers, in some cases in response to the lack of interest by the county’s authorities relating to its history and heritage. In those days, these small museums were supported through East Midlands Museum Service (EMMS).
2002
Kettering Museum and Art Gallery. Image courtesy of the Museum
In 2002, a government document was published called Renaissance in the Regions, A New Vision for England’s Museums. In that same year, a meeting was called in Oundle by Su Davies from Kettering Museum to which all interested parties were invited. Ioan Thomas who was to become a founding member also attended the meeting and for many years was the Forum secretary. At the meeting, a decision was made to set up a Northamptonshire Museums Forum. The inaugural meeting was held in Northampton Museum and Art Gallery on 26 September 2002 and plans were made to produce a leaflet publicising the member museums.
2005-07
Heather Lomas. Image courtesy of MDEM
In the early days, the meeting host also acted as the chair. It became obvious that such a loose arrangement was unworkable. Roy Sharpe from Daventry Museum was appointed the first chair in 2006.
The first Heritage Awards for the museums were held in Northampton Museum in 2005 chaired by Heather Lomas.
In 2007, a Museum Development Officer (MDO) was appointed. The advantages of membership to the Forum became evident and the membership increased to 20 by 2008, all paying an annual fee of £25.
2011-12
University of Northampton, image courtesy of the University
The funding for MDOs ceased in 2011 but by now the Museum’s Forum was on firm footing. In 2011, to signify the Historic Houses membership, the name was changed to The Museums and Historic Houses Forum.
During 2012, His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester agreed to become the patron for three years. As patron the Duke attended the Heritage Awards, funded by Northampton University, and held at the iCon at Daventry on 5 July 2012.
During this same year, the membership increased to 38 with members paying £30 annually.
2016-today
Patron, The Earl Spencer, FSA, FRHistS, MA (Oxon.)
In 2016, in order to become more inclusive and to reflect the counties wide heritage it was agreed that the organisation should be named The Northamptonshire Heritage Forum enabling more groups to join. The Forum was pleased to be able to announce that The Earl Spencer had agreed to become the Patron.
A dynamic change occurred in 2017 when the Northamptonshire Association for Local History (NALH) amalgamated with the Heritage Forum, with the agreement that the Heritage Forum would continue to produce Hindsight and to hold the annual History Day.
By 2019, with a membership of 130, the Forum represented heritage originations, providers and supporters across the county. Today, this includes local authority heritage services, all the county’s museums, national heritage bodies, individuals and local history societies.