About
The Treasure House, opened in 2007 in the historic East Riding market town of Beverley, is a genuinely distinctive combined library, archives, museum and gallery building that brings together several of the East Riding's principal cultural and heritage services under a single roof, reflecting a deliberate and forward-thinking approach to civic cultural provision that has proved influential among comparable local authority heritage services elsewhere in England.
The building houses the East Riding's local studies library and archives, a substantial resource for family and local history researchers holding records, documents and reference material covering the wider East Riding region, alongside dedicated museum galleries presenting Beverley and East Riding history and a changing programme of art exhibitions in the building's gallery spaces, giving visitors the opportunity to combine several distinct but complementary cultural activities within a single, purpose-designed visit rather than needing to travel between separate specialist institutions.
The museum displays cover Beverley's own long history as one of Yorkshire's most historically significant and best-preserved market towns, tracing its development from its medieval origins as a major ecclesiastical and trading centre, home to the magnificent Beverley Minster, through to its continuing role as the East Riding's county town and administrative centre, alongside wider East Riding regional history extending across the flat agricultural Wolds landscape, the Humber estuary and the East Riding's coastal towns and villages.
The building's modern, purpose-designed architecture stands in deliberate contrast to Beverley's predominantly historic townscape, reflecting the East Riding's commitment to providing genuinely contemporary, accessible cultural facilities alongside its extensive heritage of historic buildings, and the resulting combination of old town setting and new civic building gives the Treasure House a distinctive character within Beverley's wider streetscape.
As the East Riding's principal tourist information point as well as a cultural venue, the Treasure House also serves practical visitor needs for those exploring Beverley and the wider region, making it a natural first stop for many visitors seeking both information and an introduction to local history before exploring the town's other historic attractions, including the nearby Beverley Guildhall and Beverley Minster itself.
The combination of library, archive, museum, gallery and visitor information functions within a single accessible building makes the Treasure House a genuinely comprehensive cultural resource for both local residents and visitors to Beverley and the wider East Riding.
Categories:
Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
💡 Visitor Tips
- Combine your visit with Beverley Guildhall, a short walk away, for a fuller picture of the town's civic and social history.
- Bring family history research questions to make use of the local studies library and archives.
- Check current gallery exhibitions before visiting, as the art programme changes regularly.
- Use the Treasure House as your first stop for tourist information when exploring Beverley and the wider East Riding.
- Note the Thursday evening extended opening hours if visiting outside standard daytime hours.
- Free entry makes this an easy addition to a wider day exploring Beverley's historic town centre.
- The building is fully accessible, making it a good option for visitors with mobility requirements compared with some of Beverley's historic buildings.
- Combine your visit with Beverley Minster, a short walk away, for the town's ecclesiastical heritage.
Highlights
Beverley and East Riding History Galleries
Museum displays trace Beverley's development from its medieval origins as a major ecclesiastical and trading centre through to its continuing role as the East Riding's county town, alongside wider regional history across the Wolds, Humber estuary and coast.
The Local Studies Library and Archives
A substantial resource for family and local history researchers, holding records, documents and reference material covering the wider East Riding region, available to consult on site.
Changing Art Exhibition Programme
The building's gallery spaces host a changing programme of art exhibitions, adding a contemporary cultural dimension alongside the museum's historical displays.
Purpose-Built Modern Architecture
The Treasure House's modern, purpose-designed building stands in deliberate contrast to Beverley's predominantly historic townscape, reflecting the East Riding's commitment to contemporary, accessible cultural facilities.
Collections
The Treasure House's collection spans museum displays on Beverley and East Riding history, from the town's medieval ecclesiastical and trading origins through to its continuing role as county town, alongside a substantial local studies library and archive resource for family and regional history research.
A changing programme of art exhibitions in the building's gallery spaces adds a contemporary cultural dimension, while the building's combined function as museum, library, archive, gallery and tourist information point reflects a deliberate and influential approach to bringing several distinct cultural and heritage services together under a single accessible roof since its 2007 opening.
Beverley and the East Riding
Museum displays covering Beverley's history from medieval origins to the present, alongside wider East Riding regional history.
Local Studies Library and Archives
Records, documents and reference material for family and local history research covering the East Riding region.
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.