The Highgate Tabernacle, Southwood Lane, Highgate, London N6 5EE

Highgate School Museum

Museum & collection

Source image

3.5

Wildland

Under 1 hour

Time

Free

Cost

Atmospheric

Feel

VillageHistoric townHistory lovers

Why it's Wildland

3.5

A school museum where the story of Highgate is told through objects: Elizabeth I’s 1565 Royal Charter, First World War letters and shrapnel from a V-1 bomb that struck the school’s Senior Field in 1944.

This is a focused heritage visit rather than a wild landscape: its appeal lies in the unusually tangible links between a school, Highgate Village and the upheavals of two world wars. Visits are arranged with the school’s archivists, so plan ahead rather than expecting a walk-in museum.

Atmospheric

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The Highgate Tabernacle, Southwood Lane, Highgate, London N6 5EE

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The experience

Arrange a free, archivist-led visit to explore the museum’s documents, artefacts, photographs and paintings. Its displays connect the school’s history with Highgate Village and include material from both world wars.

Things to do

See the 1565 Royal Charter

Find the charter issued by Elizabeth I authorising Sir Roger Cholmeley to found a school at Highgate.

Look at a schoolmaster’s attendance slate

The museum includes an 1860s slate used by headmaster John Bradley Dyne for the register of attendance.

Trace the school’s wartime story

Look for First World War letters from master Arthur ‘Jumbo’ White, photographs of the school’s evacuation to Devon during the Second World War, and shrapnel from a V-1 bomb that landed on the Senior Field in June 1944.

Make a day of it

Quick escape · Under 1 hour

A short museum visit

01
Contact the school to arrange a visit.
02
Explore the museum with one of the school’s archivists.
03
Look out for the 1565 Royal Charter, the attendance slate and wartime objects.

Half day · Half day

Museum visit and archive research

01
Arrange a museum visit with the school’s archivists.
02
If you have a research purpose, contact the Archivist separately to request an archive appointment.
03
Read the archive’s reading-room rules before attending.

Verified history

Highgate School’s museum tells the story of the school, its relationship with Highgate Village and its experience of two world wars. Its collections include Royal Charters issued by Elizabeth I in 1565, records dating from the school’s foundation, First World War letters and material relating to the Second World War evacuation to Devon. The museum also holds shrapnel from a V-1 bomb that landed on the school’s Senior Field in June 1944.

Hidden details

A flying-bomb fragment — The museum displays shrapnel from a V-1 bomb that landed on the school’s Senior Field in June 1944.

The school day began at seven — The school’s account records a 7am start in 1565, with prayers, a long midday break and further prayers at the end of the day.

When to go

· Arrange a visit directly with the school; visitor hours are not stated.

The museum is an indoor heritage visit, and the supplied source gives no seasonal preference.

Weather is unlikely to affect the indoor visit. Check arrangements with the school before travelling.

What to look for

01
Look for the Royal Charter issued by Elizabeth I in 1565
02
an 1860s slate used by headmaster John Bradley Dyne for the attendance register
03
First World War letters from master Arthur ‘Jumbo’ White
04
and shrapnel from the V-1 bomb that landed on the school’s Senior Field in June 1944.