The Worthies is a Tudor building, altered in the 17th century when the fine chimneys were added.  It has gabled dormers and a carriage arch and is a listed building, grade II*.  The building was the White Hart coaching Inn until the early 1700s when it became a private house.  In the 19th century it was used as the premises of a the Hailey family’s plumbing and glazing business and by 1881 it was occupied by the local builder, George Darlington.

Lead pump head made by the Hailey family in 1801, now in the Museum

(Combining plumbing and glazing work was not unusual as plumbing work was mainly for leaded windows, guttering and roofing before internal plumbing became widespread.)  It is now three private houses.

In No.56 are wall paintings from the 1550s of six of the Nine Worthies, favourite subjects of paintings in the Middle Ages:  3 from ancient world, Alexander the Great, Hector of Troy, Julius Caesar; 3 from Old testament: Joshua, King David, Judas Maccabeus; 3 early Christians, Emperor Charlemagne, King Arthur, Godfrey de Bouillon the Crusader.  (See a few of them below.) The Pageant of the Nine Worthies was mentioned by William Shakespeare in Love’s Labour’s Lost, which was first performed in 1595.

 

Click on any of the photographs below to enlarge it and to see the description.  Then click on forward or back arrows at the foot of each photograph.  To close the pictures, just click on one.

Plan Your Visit

Opening hours:

Wednesday to Sunday, and Bank Holiday Mondays, 12noon to 4:30pm

49 High Street
Old Amersham
Buckinghamshire
HP7 0DP

01494 723700
[email protected]

 

“Enjoyed our visit to this wonderful interactive museum where you are positively encouraged to touch things!”

“Visited Amersham museum yesterday – lovely place, provides many details on the history of the place. Plenty of cute cafes, pubs and shops around also… not difficult to find free parking nearby. ”

“A well-run, informative and interesting small museum on the main street. It’s mostly volunteer-run and they do a great job in keeping it and making you feel welcome…Check out the herb garden too.”

“Enjoyable film and television location guided walk around Amersham hosted by Amersham Museum – here are the Sun Houses on Highover Park and further up the hill is High & Over.”

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