About
Godalming Museum is the dedicated local history museum for one of Surrey's most charming and historically significant market towns. Located in the heart of Godalming's town centre, the museum preserves and celebrates the remarkable story of a community that has played an outsized role in British history, from ancient settlement through medieval prosperity to modern times — and holds a remarkable claim to a world first.
Godalming's most extraordinary distinction is that it was the first town in the world to have a public electricity supply. In 1881, just two years after Edison patented his light bulb, Godalming became the first municipality anywhere on earth to light its streets and buildings with electricity — a fact that positions this quiet Surrey town at the very dawn of the electrical age. The museum's collections explore this pioneering history alongside the town's other notable stories.
Among the museum's most significant connections is that to Jack Phillips, the chief wireless operator aboard the RMS Titanic, who was born and grew up in Godalming. Phillips continued transmitting distress signals until the very end, and is widely credited with enabling the rescue of over 700 survivors by the RMS Carpathia. He did not survive. The museum holds collections relating to Phillips and his extraordinary final hours, making Godalming an important destination for those interested in the Titanic story.
Beyond these headline stories, the museum collects and displays the full breadth of Godalming's history — from prehistoric and Roman finds in the local area, through the town's medieval importance as a centre of the woollen cloth trade, to its later industries including tanning, paper-making, and the arrival of the railway. The town's connections to notable historical figures — including the writers Aldous Huxley and Gertrude Jekyll — are also explored.
The museum is run by volunteers and local enthusiasts who bring genuine passion to the collections and are happy to share their knowledge with visitors. Its intimate scale makes it ideal for a focused visit, and it pairs beautifully with a walk around Godalming's historic town centre and its excellent independent shops and cafes.
Categories:
Highlights
World's First Public Electricity Supply
Godalming's most remarkable historical achievement is that it was the first town in the world to provide a public electricity supply, in 1881. Just two years after Edison's patent, the town's streets and some businesses were lit by electricity generated at a local mill. The supply was short-lived economically but historically momentous — placing a small Surrey market town at the very beginning of the electrical age.
The museum explores this pioneering story and its significance to the history of technology and everyday life.
Jack Phillips and the Titanic
Jack Phillips, chief wireless operator of the RMS Titanic, was born and raised in Godalming. On the night of 14–15 April 1912, Phillips remained at his wireless post sending distress signals until the very end, enabling the rescue ship Carpathia to reach the survivors. He did not survive.
The museum holds collections relating to Phillips — a local boy who became one of the most celebrated figures of the Titanic disaster — and his story is told with depth and sensitivity that a birthplace museum uniquely provides.
Archaeology and Prehistoric Surrey
The museum holds archaeological collections relating to prehistoric, Roman, and early medieval settlement in the Godalming area and wider Surrey.
Finds from local excavations include pottery, coins, tools, and other objects that chart human activity in the region over thousands of years. The River Wey valley, along which Godalming sits, has been continuously settled since prehistoric times, and the archaeological material in the collections provides a tangible connection to that deep history.
The Medieval Wool and Cloth Trade
Medieval Godalming was an important centre of the Surrey wool and cloth trade, with the town's wealth reflected in its fine church and timber-framed buildings. The museum's collections document this prosperous period in the town's history, exploring the organisation of the wool trade, the craftsmen and merchants involved, and the role of the local guilds.
The display helps explain why Godalming became a significant market town and how this medieval prosperity shaped the physical character of the town that visitors see today.
Collections
Godalming: A Town's Story
The core permanent collection covering the full history of Godalming from prehistoric times through to the twentieth century, with highlights including the world's first public electricity supply and the Jack Phillips/Titanic connection.
Jack Phillips: Godalming's Titanic Hero
Dedicated display on Jack Phillips, chief wireless operator of RMS Titanic, who was born in Godalming and remained at his post until the end.
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.