About
Havering Museum is the principal local history museum for the London Borough of Havering, occupying a historic building in the heart of Romford and telling the rich story of one of London's most historically significant outer boroughs. From the ancient royal connections of Havering-atte-Bower — where English kings maintained a palace for centuries — to the vibrant market town heritage of Romford and the industrial and suburban transformations of the twentieth century, the museum presents a fascinating picture of a corner of Greater London that sits at the intersection of the city and the Essex countryside.
Havering's royal associations stretch back to the medieval period, when the manor of Havering-atte-Bower in the north of the borough was a favourite residence of English kings and queens. The palace at Havering was used extensively by monarchs from Henry III through to the Tudor period and gave its name to what is now one of Greater London's most distinctive boroughs. This remarkable royal heritage, largely unknown to many Londoners, is one of the surprising stories that the museum helps to rescue from obscurity.
Romford itself has an equally compelling history as a medieval and post-medieval market town, with a charter dating to 1247 that established one of the oldest markets in Essex. The Romford market, which continues to operate today, has been a centre of commercial life for the surrounding communities for nearly eight centuries. The museum's collections explore this market heritage in depth, from medieval trading to the Victorian and Edwardian growth that transformed Romford into a substantial town.
The museum also covers the dramatic changes of the twentieth century, when the ancient borough of Havering was absorbed into Greater London in 1965 and the area experienced rapid suburbanisation, population growth, and the development of the industries — including brewing, which was a major employer in Romford — that shaped the modern borough. An accredited museum with free admission, Havering Museum is an important community resource and a gateway to a history that is both local and nationally significant.
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Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
💡 Visitor Tips
- Visit on a Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday when Romford Market is operating — the living market in the square outside creates a direct connection to the museum's themes.
- Admission is free, making Havering Museum an excellent and accessible stop on any exploration of east London's history.
- Romford station is just 5 minutes' walk and has Elizabeth line services to central London — the museum is very easy to reach by public transport.
- Ask staff about local history research resources — the museum holds archives and photographic collections useful for family and local historians.
- Check the website for temporary exhibitions and events before visiting — the programme changes regularly throughout the year.
- The museum shop stocks local history publications that make good souvenirs and introductions to Havering's history.
- Combine the visit with a walk to St Edward's Church, Romford, which has associations with the area's royal and market heritage.
- The museum closes on Sundays and Mondays — check current hours before visiting.
Highlights
Havering Palace and Royal Connections
One of the most surprising aspects of Havering's history is its medieval status as a royal manor and the site of a major English royal palace. Havering-atte-Bower, in the north of the modern borough, was a favourite residence of English monarchs from Henry III in the thirteenth century through to the Tudor period.
Kings and queens including Edward III, Richard II, Henry IV, and Henry VIII spent time at Havering Palace, and the manor gave its name to the Liberty of Havering — a royal peculiar with special legal status.
The museum explores this remarkable forgotten royal history and its lasting impact on the borough's identity.
Romford Market Heritage
Romford market is one of the oldest and largest outdoor markets in south-east England, with a charter granted in 1247 that has operated continuously for nearly eight centuries. The market has always been the commercial and social heart of Romford, drawing traders and customers from across the surrounding countryside and shaping the layout and character of the town.
The museum's collections document the market's evolution from medieval livestock trading through to its Victorian heyday and modern continuation, preserving records, photographs, and objects that tell the story of this remarkable institution and the communities it served.
Romford Brewing History
Romford was home to a significant brewing industry for much of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, taking advantage of the town's position near good water supplies and transport links to London. The Ind Coope Romford Brewery was one of the largest employers in the area for generations, and its story — from Victorian industrial expansion through to closure — is an important part of the borough's economic and social history.
The museum holds collections relating to local brewing including labels, equipment, photographs, and records that document this forgotten chapter in the story of one of Britain's most successful beer-producing towns.
Suburban London Transformation
The story of how Havering transformed from a collection of Essex market towns and rural villages into part of Greater London is one of the most dramatic urban change narratives in the capital's twentieth-century history. The extension of the District Line and later the development of housing estates brought thousands of new residents, while the incorporation into Greater London in 1965 formally ended the area's independent county status.
The museum explores this transformation through photographs, personal memories, and everyday objects that capture the experience of suburbanisation and the tensions between the area's rural traditions and its London future.
Collections
Havering Museum holds collections covering the social, economic, and cultural history of the London Borough of Havering and its predecessor communities in Essex. The collections include archaeological material, historical objects, photographs, documents, and archival records spanning from the medieval period through to the twentieth century.
Particular strengths lie in the market town heritage of Romford, the royal connections of Havering-atte-Bower, local brewing history, and the suburban development of the twentieth century.
The museum is an accredited museum and maintains its collections to professional standards, with active programmes of acquisition, conservation, and community engagement.
Havering: A Royal Borough
Permanent galleries covering the history of the London Borough of Havering from its medieval royal origins through to the present day.
Romford: Market Town to London Borough
Focus on the history of Romford, its ancient market, brewing heritage, and twentieth-century suburban transformation.
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.