How we date a pot without a label
Clay, shape and the soil it was found in all tell a curator something (sample story).
Now open in Gallery 2
Rivers of Clay
Four thousand years of pottery from the valley: storage jars, cooking pots and the hands that made them.
Until 1 March (sample). Included with admission.
Storage jar
Valley ware, about 1400 BC
Fired clay with burnished slip
Lent by the Riverside Trust (sample)
1987.214
Exhibitions
Two exhibitions on now and one opening in spring. Each is included with your ticket.
Now open
Faces of the Valley
Gallery 4, until 12 April (sample)
Thirty portrait busts from Roman villas to Victorian town halls, and the stories of the people they show.
Drawn by Hand
Gallery 1, from 14 May (sample)
Maps of the valley from 1600 to 1900, drawn by surveyors, farmers and one very lost bishop.
Plan your visit
Opening hours
Monday
Closed
Tuesday to Sunday
10:00–17:00
Thursday
10:00–20:00
Last entry
30 minutes before closing
Opening times (sample). Closed 24–26 December.
Tickets
Adult
$12
Concession
Over 65, students, job seekers
$8
Under 18
Free
Members
Free
Thursday after 17:00
Free
Example prices.
From the collection
Twenty thousand objects, two thousand on show (sample). A few to look for on your visit.
Three offering bowls
Valley ware, about 900 BC
Fired clay
1952.031
Pair of storage jars
Mill Street pottery, 1880s
Salt-glazed stoneware
2003.118
Crackle-glaze vase
Studio pottery, 1974
Porcelain
2011.006
Head of a woman
Roman, 2nd century AD
Marble
1931.402
Objects and accession numbers (sample).
Learn with us
Free sessions for schools, Saturday trails for families and talks for curious adults.
Schools
Free, Tue–Fri mornings
Family trail
Saturdays 10:30
Curator talks
First Thursday, 18:30
Talks and events
Booking helps us plan; most events are free (sample).
Thu 4 Dec
Lates: the museum after dark
Whole museum, 17:00–21:00, free
No booking
Become a member
Members visit every exhibition free, bring a guest and keep the museum open for everyone. From $40 a year (example prices).
From the journal
Moving a Roman head across town
Twelve people, one crate and a very slow van (sample story).
Inside the archive drawers
Every object has a record card, and some cards are better stories than the objects (sample story).