Historic Ryde Society

‘Giving Ryde’s Past to the Future’

Historic Ryde Society Quiz Night Thursday 28 March 2024 at Yelf's Hotel, at 7p.m. for 7.30pm.

Museum of Ryde

History of Ryde Museum

A three day celebration marked the Royal Victorian Ryde 2011 weekend, when the empty basement was officially opened by Andrew Turner, MP, and Lady Lucinda Lambton, three x great grand-daughter of Lord Lambton, Radical Jack! –  who laid the foundation stone of the building in May 1835. A wonderful connection! The refurbishment of the basement was made possible thanks to a grant from the Ryde Townscape Heritage Initiative, funded jointly by the IW Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The creation of the Museum of Ryde was funded initially by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Museum opened to the public on Monday, August 15, 2011. Run by volunteers, the Museum won awards from the Isle of Wight Community Action group in 2012 and 2013.

There are many different opportunities for volunteers. If you would like to help, please get in touch via the website, admin@historicrydesociety.com , or call the Museum of Ryde on 01983 717435 during opening hours. Volunteers are given full training, a Polo Shirt, and a fleece for the winter months!

In October 2012, an internal, integral ice well in the arcade was exposed for the first time in many years. Funds were raised in order to open it up for the general public, and it is hoped to recreate the Georgian confectionery, which would have existed at the time of building. All donations welcome!

Sponsorship opportunities to help with the Ice Well Fund are available. £10 will see your name on a brick, or will sponsor a foot’s length of the recycled pier planks forming part of the floor. A generous £200 will see your name, or that of a loved one, on the risers on the stairs leading down to the Museum. Temporary cards will be used until all the sponsorship is in place. These cards will then be replaced by a permanent fixture. Spread the word!

If you know of a Youth or School group which may be interested in a visit to the Museum, please get in touch with us at the Museum.  Other local interest groups are also welcome. Coffee mornings or presentations to local groups at a venue of their choice can be arranged.

Risk assessment forms and worksheets are available. Organisers are welcome to visit the Museum free of charge to discuss their requirements.

Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with computers, as volunteering in the Museum brings new opportunities to learn new skills! Please get in touch if there is anything you think you may be able to do to help. Painting, vacuuming, carpentry, filling, dusting, putting pictures on the wall, being photographed and interviewed by the media, are all things volunteers have done. Behind the scenes work is an ongoing process. If you would like to help, please get in touch.

HRS Chair Brian Harris has perfected the stands for the boards and screwed buckets to them for donations, and the total has now passed £1100! Joining together with James from the Donald McGill Postcard Museum in 2011, Historic Ryde Society created a bit of free fun for the general public! Founder member Lynne Gregory Phillips painted four boards reminiscent of the saucy seaside postcards created by the late Donald McGill. Thanks to local businessman Wayne Whittle and his staff, and Wightlink, these boards have enjoyed successful summer seasons!