St Neots Museum is celebrating 200 years since the earliest forms of permanent photographs with an exhibition showcasing photos from the museum’s collection.

On display are photographic portraits of known and unknown people taken over the last two centuries, a range of historic cameras, and a few photographs taken by local studios. An example of an early form of photography, known as a Daguerreotype, said to feature George Bower, a local Victorian industrialist can also be seen in the exhibition.

The museum is excited to have the opportunity to display the Haynes Collection, 6 photo albums containing photographs collected or taken by Arthur Haynes between 1930 and 1980. The photos are an impressive collection which provide a unique view of the town’s expansion and social changes throughout the 20^th century. Although Haynes did not have his own professional studio in the town, he did often take photos for people from St Neots out of his own home.

The museum’s staff and volunteers have been busy over the last few months scanning photographs which have been printed by Kodak Express St Neots to create a wonderful display of the people and sights in St Neots.

Collections Officer Holly Adamson said, ‘The exhibition has provided a fantastic opportunity to get some of our photography collection out of storage and showcase some never-before-seen photographs’.

The exhibition ‘St Neots: Through the Lens’ is on at St Neots Museum until the 4^th July 2026.

Photographs from the Museum’s Collection:

1995.1.4.42 – Haynes Collection – St Neots Regatta 1950

2000.393.1 – Mrs Emily Adaline Sweeting of Paxton Park, c. 1900.