St Neots Museum is seeking an experienced and motivated individual to join us as Chair of Trustees.

This is a senior voluntary leadership role with responsibility for guiding the Museum’s strategic direction, ensuring strong governance, and supporting its long term sustainability.

This role sits at the heart of the St Neots Museum Strategy, with a clear mandate to ensure the Museum is fit for the future: resilient, relevant and ready to serve a growing community.

As St Neots continues to expand rapidly as a town, the Museum has an exciting opportunity to broaden its reach, strengthen its visitor offer and embed itself even more deeply in local life.

About St Neots Museum

St Neots Museum is an independent charitable museum dedicated to public education and community heritage, caring for and sharing the history of St Neots and its surrounding area.

The Museum is:

• A registered charity regulated by the Charity Commission for England and Wales
• Accredited under the Arts Council England (ACE) Museum Accreditation Scheme, meeting nationally recognised standards in governance, collections management, public engagement and sustainability
• Supported by a small staff team and a significant, highly valued volunteer workforce
• The Museum is ambitious for its future and clear that sustainability, inclusivity and public benefit must sit at the centre of its development.

The role

The Chair leads the Board of Trustees and works closely with the Museum Manager to ensure the Museum is well-governed, financially sound, and compliant with its charitable and statutory responsibilities. The Chair also represents the Museum externally, acting as an ambassador for its vision and purpose.

The Chair is elected at the Museum’s AGM or may be appointed on an interim basis until an AGM is held.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the Board of Trustees and ensuring effective governance and decision-making
• Overseeing financial stability, legal compliance, and risk management
• Supporting strategic planning, including convening an annual strategy day
• Ensuring the Board has the right mix of skills and experience
• Working with the Museum Manager to maintain oversight of operations, collections, and accreditation requirements
• Representing the Museum to stakeholders and partners

About you

You will bring strong leadership and communication skills, experience of organisational or people management, and an understanding of the UK charity environment. You will be impartial, collaborative, and confident in guiding discussion and decision-making.

What you’ll be doing

• Chairing Trustee Board meetings and ensuring good governance
• Supporting strategic planning and long-term resilience
• Working closely with the Museum Manager to oversee the Museum’s affairs
• Helping recruit and develop Trustees with the right skills and experience
• Acting as an advocate and ambassador for the Museum

What we’re looking for

• Strong leadership and facilitation skills
• Confidence working with people and managing differing viewpoints
• Understanding of charities, governance, or voluntary organisations
• Commitment to the Museum’s purpose and values

The difference you’ll make

You’ll play a key role in ensuring the Museum remains well-run, financially sustainable, and able to meet national museum accreditation standards, helping it continue to serve its community for years to come.

This is an opportunity to:

• Ensure excellent governance of an ACE-accredited museum at a defining moment
• Help ensure a trusted local institution is sustainable for future generations
• Shape how heritage, learning and community connection are experienced in a rapidly growing town
• Leave a lasting legacy through thoughtful, inclusive and resilient leadership

Time commitment

Time commitment to be agreed flexibly, recognising the senior nature of the role and other commitments. Estimated commitment is 15 hours per month – around 4 half days per month, excluding any time spent promoting the museum at external events.

How to apply

We welcome applications from all sections of the community, and are particularly keen to reach people with leadership, governance, charity, business, public sector or community experience who may be interested in making a lasting contribution to the future of the Museum and the town.

For more information, or to express your interest in this role, contact Chris Jones, Deputy Chair of Trustees, on cjjones@live.co.uk

The deadline for Expressions of Interest is 18 September 2026.

Eligibility

The law places certain restrictions on becoming a charity trustee. For example, you cannot be under the age of 18, have previously been removed from trusteeship of a charity by a Court or the Charity Commission, disqualified under the Company Director’s Disqualification Act 1986, or been convicted of an offence involving deception or dishonesty (unless the conviction is spent).

If you are in any doubt about your eligibility, visit the Charity Commission website at www.charitycommission.gov.uk

Owned by James Paine (1789-1855), who originally ran the Great Paxton Farm. Around 1831, Paine decided to enter trade, including milling, brewing and merchanting business, as well as brick kilns. After James Paine’s death, the brewery passed to one of his sons, William Paine and then later to John and Alexander McNish in 1882.

Unfortunately, in 1905, the brewery and stone flour mill in the market square were destroyed in a fire, causing the business to be moved into a vacant building at the edge of the square.

The brewery operated until 1987, when the business was shut down. Throughout the years, certain speciality beers were brewed here. For example, multiple Christmas beers were brewed, or one brewed in 1986 celebrating the royal wedding of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. Some of the Paine’s bottles can be seen at the museum, as well as the old pump which visitors may have seen from the window when passing by. The old pump was used to transport wort from the ground floor to the top floor of the brewery, where it could be cooled off. The pump was later replaced by an electric one and donated to the museum.

Although it no longer exists, the Paine’s brewery is still remembered by many who grew up and lived in St. Neots and the local area.

Written by Evie whilst on work experience at St Neots Museum.

Museums are good for us in ways that go beyond education; they are also spaces for curiosity and connection. During Mental Health Awareness Week, it feels like the perfect moment to recognise the important role museums can play in supporting wellbeing. More and more research suggests that engaging with arts and culture can reduce stress, improve mood, lessen feelings of isolation, and create a stronger sense of connection and meaning.¹ In fact, the World Health Organisation published a report exploring the role of the arts in improving health and wellbeing, highlighting how arts and cultural experiences can have genuine benefits for our mental and physical health.²

At St Neots Museum, we see this every day, even if visitors don’t always realise it themselves. People often come in looking for local history and leave feeling calmer than when they arrived. Museums ask us to pause and take a closer look at things, which is very much what the practice of mindfulness is all about. Museum visits don’t have to be serious or deeply emotional to be good for us.

Museums can also inspire creativity and curiosity, whether you’re an artist or simply someone who enjoys discovering new ideas and perspectives. And for many people, there’s something deeply meaningful about connecting with history and culture.

Bringing mindfulness outside of museum walls

We are also working on ways to bring this mindfulness outside of our museum walls. Our history walks offer an accessible way for people to step out into the town and see its history in place, not just on display. Visitors can discover stories behind familiar streets, buildings and views, often seeing everyday surroundings in a completely new way. There’s also something really special about doing it as part of a group, as this naturally encourages conversation and shared memories. For many people, it’s a chance to feel more rooted in the community while also learning something new, which can be just as rewarding as a visit inside the museum.

1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12662043/
2. https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/e1cc8536-773d-446f-9822-8ae376f41415/content

Jailbreak Escape Room Returns to St Neots Museum with a Brand-New 2026 Scenario

2nd May – 19th July

If you’re searching for a unique escape room experience in Cambridgeshire, Jailbreak is back at St Neots Museum and it’s better than ever.

The unique escape room experience set in a real historic cell block, now in its 7th season, Jailbreak returns to St Neots Museum with a brand new scenario.

This spring, your group arrives at the Museum, purporting to be a team of detectorists with a valuable gem and a story to tell. The curator isn’t convinced. Before you can make your case, you’re secured in the historic cell block – with 60 minutes to solve the clues, recover your find, and get out!

Set entirely within the Museum’s authentic historic spaces, this is an escape room experience unlike any purpose-built venue. The building, the atmosphere and the history are all real.

No specialist knowledge required, just curiosity, teamwork and a cool head under pressure.

Jo Allen, Museum Manager writes: “We are delighted to welcome back the team from Mystery in History for what promises to be another exciting season of Jailbreak, and we hope to see many new and previous players taking part in this highly enjoyable experience.”

Unlike purpose-built escape rooms, Jailbreak takes place entirely within the museum’s original cells. That means the setting, atmosphere, and surroundings are completely real, adding an extra layer of tension and authenticity. Spaces for Jailbreak are limited due to the intimate setting of the historic cells, so early booking is recommended

Blog Editorial November 2022 

St Neots Boys Bathing

Female bathers in St Neots

SN river 1900

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II lived during a century of incredible development and change and this article looks back at local events during her ninety-six year life. Elizabeth was born in 1926 but although the 1920s were sometimes known as the ‘Jazz Age’ the decade was a time of struggle for many as Europe tried to come to terms with life after the Great War, 1914-18. As the Rev. Knights of St Neots Parish Church said in the St Neots Armistice Day service in 1923 Europe was ‘still desolated by war and stricken by famine’.

In 1926 St Neots was a small market town with a population of around 4,000, the town fire engine was still horse-drawn and although women had gained the right to vote in 1928 local people were scandalised by mixed bathing in the river Great Ouse.

Dr Harrison with the St Neots Quads

After WWI the need for better housing led to slum clearance across the UK including in St Neots, ancient thatched cottages were demolished and new council houses built by the local council. In St Neots and Eynesbury, Cambridge Gardens and Ferrars Avenue were just two of the new developments offering indoor toilets and running water to their inhabitants.   

During the 1930s Britain and the western world experienced the great depression, with significant unemployment and hardship for local people. However, the birth of the St Neots Quadruplets in November 1935 and the story of their survival, although born 7 weeks prematurely, captured the hearts of the nation. But already by 1935 the possibility of another world war was on the horizon and St Neots council had already held a gas mask demonstration and was thinking of purchasing Cressener House as new, larger, council offices.  

Floods in 1947

Floods in 1947

The 1940s were dominated by the Second World War when the town population was greatly increased by visiting servicemen, many from nearby air bases. The one bright spot was the opening of the Little Barford power station which helped to bring electricity to the homes of local people. Then in 1947 the country, including St Neots, experienced the worst flooding in living memory and many people had to be rescued from their homes. But bringing some cheer to the town the first carnival was held in 1948 as part of the St Neots rowing regatta and it became a very popular part of local life until it ended in 2008. 

Regatta pre 1960s

Rowing in the 1950s

During the 1950s house building continued across the town with new housing close to Huntingdon Street and, at last, a new sewage and water treatment plant was built to serve the town, after a struggle stretching back over 80 years. New forms of entertainment arrived with the development of the domestic television set and ownership was given a huge boost when the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was broadcast live on 2nd June 1953. Bringing new educational opportunities to local children, Bushmead Secondary school opened in Eaton Socon in 1958.

Cinema in the 1950s

Longsands staff 1967

Ushering in the 1960s, the opening of Longsands Secondary school launched a decade of change in the town. While new young pop group, the Beatles, sang ‘Love Me Do’ an open air swimming pool opened in Huntingdon Street, a new bridge was constructed over the River Great Ouse leading into the Market Square and London overspill planning brought the possibility of new industry and new families moving to the town. Eaton Socon and Eaton Ford became part of the St Neots Urban District Council area and plans for the Eynesbury, Shirdley Road and Eaton Socon, Queens Gardens estates were developed. In 1966 England won the Football World Cup, but the Pavilion Cinema closed in 1968 depriving the town of a cinema. The next year 1969, American astronaut, Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon, St Neots Police station moved to Dovehouse Close, and controversial plans for a St Neots ring road were abandoned.

SN Magistrates Court

In 1971 a major new road scheme re-routed the A1 Great North Road and after centuries as a historic route to the north Eaton Socon high street fell silent. Ernulf secondary school opened in Eynesbury and as Britain joined the EU in 1973 plans for a new leisure complex on the old Jordan and Addington Priory Mill site began to develop. Local sportsman, Tony Ekins captained the England men’s Hockey team in the 1972 Olympic Games and in 1974 the Urban District Council was dissolved to be replaced by St Neots Town Council and Huntingdon District Council. 

Longsands 1968

New Street 1950s

In 1979 Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister ushering in the 1980s, a decade of national protest and further local changes. 1982 brought an unexpected war when we fought Argentina for control of the Falkland Islands, a strategically important base for the British Navy. In 1983 local schoolboy, John Gregory joined the England football team, and during 1985 the new St Neots Bypass opened, re-routing the A45 from the Market Square and High Street south of the town and renamed the A428. Also in 1985 the Ekins livestock auction in New Street closed and only two years later Paines Brewery on the market square brewed its last pint, while supermarket Waitrose opened in 1987. In 1989, far from St Neots, a little known scientist, Tim Berners-Lee, at CERN in Geneva invented a new information sharing system for computers, the World Wide Web, which was to revolutionise communication across the world. The decade ended with the spectacular demolition of the Little Barford power station cooling towers in 1989 and the ending of the sittings at the Victorian Magistrates Court in New Street, St Neots which now moved to Huntingdon town centre. 

Paines Brewery

The economic crash of Black Wednesday in September 1992 brought a decade of hardship in some parts of the world, but it was a decade of mixed fortunes for St Neots and the surrounding area. New supermarkets arrived as the town grew with a Co-op Rainbow store opening in Eaton Socon in 1991, a Tesco’s in Eynesbury in 1995 and a Lidl in the town centre in 1998. In 1995 a new Museum opened in the old Police Station and Magistrates Court telling the story of the town. The Market Square was thought to be languishing during the 1990s, until as a new Labour party leader, Tony Blair came to power in 1997, the refurbishment of the Market Square and Brook Street began. After the tragic death of Princess Diana in a car accident in 1997, the 1990s ended on a more positive note when Britain and Ireland ended decades of conflict by signing the Good Friday agreement in 1998. 

During the early 2000s St Neots began to experience a building boom, with almost 3,000 new homes built at Loves Farm on the eastern outskirts of St Neots.  Before building started archaeologists were surprised to discover that the site had been home to Iron Age Farmers who had lived on the hillside 2,000 years ago. Local sports stars also came through in the 2000s, with Longsands pupil, Robbie Grabarz becoming the European High Jump champion in 2012 and winning a silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics. 

Loves Farm

In 2014 a new railway bridge with lifts finally opened across the east coast railway line linking Loves Farm pedestrians to St Neots. By 2017 further housing was planned for the farmland south of Loves Farm and development at Wintringham began. Work was held up in 2020 with the arrival of a devastating pandemic when the Covid-19 flu like virus spread across the world. In 2022 Elizabeth II passed away aged, 96 and a new era opened with her son Charles III on the throne.   After almost a century of incredible invention, drama and disaster what will the next century bring?