Archives at Night: Cabinet of Curiosities

This October, join us for an evening to explore our Cabinet of Curiosities! An essential part of any self-respecting Edwardian antiquarian’s home, a ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ or ‘Wonder Room’, contained their collection of unusual and extraordinary items. For one night only, as part of Museums at Night, we will open our own Edwardian Cabinet of Curiosities. Delve into our records charting the popularity of Egyptology and fascination with all things archaeology; the rise of spiritualists, along with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s correspondence on the treatment of mediums; late 19th and early 20th century practices for dealing with death, from designs of coffins and funerary monuments, to the vast out of town cemeteries – cities of the dead. Take a step even further back in time from the Edwardian era to learn about infamous witch trials and the history of sorcery.