Morpeth Antiquarian Society
The Morpeth Antiquarian Society is our local history society, providing:
- Lectures
- Exhibitions
- Research
- Publications
The Society was founded in 1946, and is a registered charity (No. 507640). The President is ex officio the Mayor of Morpeth.
The Society publishes books on Morpeth’s history, holds Heritage Open Day events in September, advises on planning and heritage, runs an annual exhibition for the weekend of Morpeth Fair in June and stages temporary displays in the glass cases in Morpeth Town Hall Butter Market.
The Society is the parent body of the Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering, the 3-day annual celebration of local traditional music, dance, craft, dialect and heritage which is held across the town on the weekend after Easter.
Lecture Programme
The Society has an annual lecture programme with meetings on the last Friday of:
September, October, November, January, February, March (subject to change to avoid Good Friday) and April (AGM), May and June.
For more information see the the MAS pages on the Northumbriana website
You can help us by becoming a member (membership is currently £21pa), donations are always very welcome, making a bequest in your will or playing the Northumberland Lottery
For more information, contact the Secretary: Val Cowan 07887 594161
A Museum for Morpeth
We are working on a long campaign to (re)establish a Museum in this lovely town which is full of interesting history and stories.
The Society’s original Museum was housed in the 13th century Chantry from 1965 to 1997, 
during which time MAS launched an appeal which restored the whole building to serve the town. After local government changes the museum store moved first to the Town Hall and then Newbiggin and finally to its current location in Pegswood. Meanwhile we continue to catalogue our extensive collection of artefacts, pictures, maps and books and arrange exhibitions, and are seeking to re-establish a Heritage Resource in the town to tell the story of 
Morpeth to residents and visitors and aid research into local and family history.
Morpeth has been a market town for at least eight centuries. A Charter to hold a market was issued by King John in 1200, and it is believed to be a confirmation of an earlier charter. So, Morpeth has a very long history, about which much is known.
The early history has survived in document form. For example, the edict of 1282, which demanded that all corn grown in Morpeth should be ground at the Lord’s Mill. That edict was still being enforced in the 18th century.
In more recent times, artefacts have survived. However, both documents and artefacts are scattered around Morpeth and beyond. For example, original Morpeth Court Rolls are held by the Carlisle Archive Centre however, a microfilm copy is held by the Morpeth Antiquarian Society and others are retained in the Northumberland Records Office at Woodhorn Museum, Ashington.
We have a list of important artefacts that still exist. Their location is known. Their ownership is known. And – in some cases, promises have been made that if a museum existed, artefacts would be given or loaned on a long-term basis to it.
It is our firm belief that the treasures of Morpeth should be brought together in one place, properly cared for and put on display to the general public.