THE THOMAS LAYTON TRUST & LAYTON'S COLLECTION

Discovering World Stories
and Hidden Treasures THE THOMAS LAYTON COLLECTION AT THE MUSEUM OF LONDON:
A GLOBAL COLLECTION
FOR A GLOBAL CITY WATCH THE FULL FILM The Layton Collection film shoot:
Behind the Scenes MEET THE TEAM
BEHIND THE MUSEUM FILM SEE BEHIND THE SCENES "Almost anything you might
dream of you can find amongst
these dusty bookshelves..." DISCOVERING A HIDDEN BOOK COLLECTION WATCH THE FULL FILM Civic Legacy A LIFETIME OF DEDICATION Interested in local politics and affairs from a young age, Layton was involved in many civic improvements we take for granted today, like the library, swimming baths and the fire station. READ ABOUT LAYTON'S CIVIC LEGACY Laying the foundation stone 1903,
Layton can be seen holding the chair Coins & Medals GOLD STATERS TO SEIGE MONEY Layton's collection is particularly strong in Roman coins found in Britain, many from the site of ancient pilings at Brentford. DISCOVER THIS COLLECTION Silver radiate coin AD 249-251 Layton's Brentford WALK THE LAYTON TRAIL Layton lived most of his life at 22 Kew Bridge Road. He witnessed first hand enormous changes in Brentford and how this dramatically altered people's lives. FOLLOW IN LAYTON'S FOOTSTEPS Brentford market and fountain c.1892 Layton's Map Collection BRENTFORD & BEYOND Historic maps showing other parts of the world and 19th century maps of local interest. SEE LAYTON'S MAPS Detail of map of Middlesex to accompany The Beauties of England & Wales
engraved by J Roper after G Cole, 1807 Layton's Book Collection OVER 8,000 BOOKS FROM THE 16TH TO THE 19TH CENTURY EXPLORE LAYTON'S BOOKS Our National Cathedrals, Ward, Lock & Co, [n.d.] Layton's Print Collection SPANNING THE 17TH – 19TH CENTURY Containing some of the earliest known plans of London, it also includes works by Pugin, Canaletto and Hogarth. READ ABOUT LAYTON'S PRINT COLLECTION Fire In London, J Bluck, after Rowlandson & Pugin 1808 Treasures from the Pacific SHIELDS, SPEARS, CLUBS & MASKS Layton bought a diverse selection of items at auctions to add to his collection. EXPLORE THE ARTEFACTS Carved Maori " wakahuia " or featherbox, 46.5cm long Discoveries from the Thames A COLLECTION 70 YEARS IN THE MAKING Layton wanted to create a local version of the British Museum in his house in Brentford to remain after his death. EXPLORE THE ARTEFACTS Iron & copper alloy dagger & sheath, Mortlake, Iron Age (500BC-300BC) Conservation & Repair A CONTINUING PROGRAMME OF SPECIALIST CARE Ensuring this valuable collection survives for future generations of users to enjoy. SPONSOR A BOOK The Animal Kingdom, Georges Cuvier 1854

Latest

Secrets of the Thames, London Museum Docklands, until 1 March 2026

Secrets of the Thames, London Museum Docklands, until 1 March 2026

Thomas Layton would have been thrilled to see the UK’s first major exhibition dedicated to the hidden world of mudlarks. A landscape unknown to most Londoners is exposed twice a day by the tidal Thames; among the mud and stones remarkable objects from every era of London’s past can be found. The exhibition features over 350 mudlarked objects, from intimate personal items to historical relics, with many on display for the first time. The exhibition provides an opportunity to step into the boots of a mudlark and discover how they explore the foreshore, uncover artefacts and curate their personal...


The Collection

Thomas Layton collected books, coins, and archaeological items (usually described as ‘antiquities’) for 70 years. In that time he had accumulated what has been described as “probably the largest collection of London antiquities ever amassed by a single individual”.

The vast majority of items are believed to have been bought at auctions. Some came to him from his men working on the river. His businesses provided opportunities for finds from dredging, building of bridges and embankments along the banks of the Thames, for which Layton paid good money. Even by the standards of the day Layton kept poor records of where items were found. Despite this, the collection is considered highly important particularly to archaeologists and pre-historians.

Layton Collection | Discovering World Stories and Hidden Treasures Explore some of Layton's objects cared for at the Museum of London. Jon Cotton, Natasha Fenner, Jackie Keily and Roy Stephenson, specialist curators who have Guy Fawkes Guy Fawkes Guido Fawkes and his associates, engraving published by G Smeeton of St Martin's Lane, London. Collection no 5286a This image shows the conspirators who tried Auction Catalogue 21 January 1914 Auction catalogue for a sale held by Hodgson & Co in 1914, with lots including books, maps and prints from Thomas Layton's collection. Middlesex smallpox hospital poster Inquiry into the proposal to acquire a Middlesex smallpox hospital, 20 September 1906. This poster has survived amongst Layton collection and may well have been part Auction Catalogue 26 May 1914 Auctioneer's catalogue for a sale at Layton's home on 26 May 1914 arranged by Allan Booth and Dampney. The lots include furnishing and household items, sale catalogue 1 Sale Catalogue 9 June 1914 Cover of one of the sale catalogues which included objects rejected when Fred Turner, the Brentford Librarian, made his selection from Layton's collection. Download the London Fire Fire in London, coloured aquatint by J Bluck from an original by Rowlandson & Pugin, published 1 September 1808 at Ackermann’s Repository of Arts, 101 Silver radiate coin AD 249 - 251 A silver radiate coin of Empress Herennia Etruscilla, wife of Trajan Decius, ruler of the Roman Empire, AD 249-251. The back of the coin depicts Silver Denarius A silver denarius coin of Emperor Hadrian, ruler of the Roman Empire, AD 117-138. The back of the coin may depict Concordia, the Roman goddess of Shadwell sham, 19th century A 'Shadwell Sham', made by William Smith and Charles Eaton. Museum of London object N2382 These two notorious Victorian forgers worked in Shadwell, specialising in fake

LAYTON’S BEQUEST

Thomas Layton bequeathed his collection to the people of Brentford to create a museum. Difficulties with his will thwarted his plan and parts of the collection were dispersed. The Thomas Layton Trust is bringing his bequest back together on this website as our Virtual Museum.

Archaeology & Ethnography

Medals and Coins 5,200 archaeological and ethnographic artifacts including items from UK, Egypt, Greece, Rome, Peru and N. America.

Medals & Coins

Medals and Coins A remarkable collection of 3,500 coins, tokens and medals - Roman, Greek, Indian, American and British.

Maps & Prints

Medals and Coins 4,000 maps and prints and 150 framed prints, maps and paintings.

Books & Manuscripts

Medals and Coins 8,000 from the 16th century to 19th century, remain in the collection, together with a small collection of manuscripts and some of Layton's personal papers.

THOMAS LAYTON

Thomas Layton lived in Brentford, Middlesex between 1826 and 1911...read more

THE LAYTON TRAIL

Download a walk through Victorian Brentford and discover some of Layton's legacy

LEARNING RESOURCES

Discover materials for primary school teachers and students

ON SALE – LAYTON’S LEGACY

Purchase a beautifully illustrated book by Mike Galer, called Layton's Legacy.

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