Haslemere Museum has been awarded £94,968 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to celebrate 100 years on Haslemere High Street.

Founded in 1888 and moving to its current site in 1926, Haslemere Museum is an unusual gem in the area. The 136-year-old museum houses a collection of artefacts from around the world, including a mummy, and 15,000 square metres of gardens – all without charging admission.

It costs £700 daily to keep the museum open, or a quarter of a million pounds a year, but as an independent charity, the museum relies entirely on donations and fundraising.

Using the grant, the museum will collect oral histories by interviewing residents to create a new history booklet and local history exhibition, as well as a portable touring exhibition for schools and community centres. The funding will also support a community art exhibition, invertebrate studies, biodiversity “Bioblitz” data collection, and pond-dipping sessions in the grounds.

Museum chairman Melanie Odell said: “We are thrilled to receive this support. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, the museum will be better able to share its heritage and connect with the community, enabling greater access and participation for the future.”

Education Officer Kay Topping, who has worked at the museum for 24 years, said: “It is heart-warming that after 136 years, the museum is still enjoyed by people of all ages. I often hear how visits to this wonderful resource have inspired people, many of whom have gone on to work in certain fields because of their visits here.

“It’s amazing that Haslemere has a museum with such important and renowned collections, and by raising our profile with our 100 Years on the High Street project, we hope to ensure that it continues to grow and inspire future generations for at least another 100 years.”