Grosvenor Museum

Founded in 1886, the museum boasts an impressive collection spanning prehistoric times to the present day, with a particular focus on the rich heritage of Chester and the surrounding region.

Roman tombstones

One of the museum's highlights is its extensive Roman collection. Discover an internationally significant Roman tombstones, unearthed in the 19th century and reused in the city walls. Find out about everyday life in Roman Chester, through fascinating artefacts and interactive displays.

Paintings, silver, and local landscapes

The art gallery features a collection of paintings and sculptures by regional artists, with captivating landscapes of Cheshire and North Wales. The museum also houses nationally important collection of silver. The Ridgway Silver Gallery was opened in 1992, and showcases four hundred years of Chester hallmarked silver, from historic race trophies to ornate church plates.

The Period House

Social history collections are showcased in the Grosvenor Museum’s Period House, which has nine room-sets illustrate changing fashions in domestic interiors. These include a Stuart dining room, Georgian drawing room, Victorian entrance hall, kitchen, parlour and bedroom, Edwardian bathroom and a 1920s nursery.

Fossils and footprints

The Grosvenor Museum holds a collection of fascinating fossils, including some rather unique finds. The museum houses trace fossils of a Chirotherium, an ancestor of dinosaurs. Unlike dinosaurs, whose remains are often found as skeletons, the Chirotherium left behind only footprints and tail marks.