Standing for over 400 years, Charlton House is one of the finest Jacobean manor houses in the country. Grade 1-listed and the former residence of royal tutors, baronets, and prime ministers, the House has ties to the monarchy, trade, and world wars. With many features original to the 17th century, the Charlton House grounds include a Summer House attributed to architect Inigo Jones, and beautiful year-round walled gardens.

The Local History Library and Art Gallery, which opened in 1970 in Woodlands, Mycenae Road, Blackheath, was the original home of our archive and art collection. The Tudor Barn Art Gallery at Eltham also hosted a permanent picture collection plus temporary exhibitions of the borough’s art collection. The art collection contains a large watercolour collection and a selection of oil paintings. The collection spans over 200 years and includes many well-known artists including Paul Sanby.

In 2003 the collections were moved to the Greenwich Heritage Centre which subsequently closed in 2018. The archive and museum collection are currently housed in a purpose-built archive and museum store in Charlton, London.

Please note not all of our art collection is on public display.