Sammy Miller's Museum

A couple of weeks ago, a small group of us went for a bit of a ride through Sussex and Hampshire. After pit-stops in Worthing and Southsea for a drink and some chips, we decided to head to Sammy Miller's Museum deep in the New Forest.

This is a place I've long wanted to visit but for one reason or another had never got around to. It's a museum which houses one of the finest collection of restored motorcycles in Europe - many of them extremely rare. Sammy Miller himself was a championship winning bike racer back in the day, winning numerous titles and competing regularly in the North West 200 and at the TTs in the Isle of Man. When he was finished with racing he decided to set up his own motorcycle parts business and he put a few of his old racing motorcycles in the corner - and this later became the museum that exists today.

Anyone interested in the origins of motorcycling and bike development through the years will find this place an absolute treasure trove. It is very much a step back in time and a reminder of a by-gone age and the museum also houses a good collection of biking memorabilia and artifacts. I'm not sure how many bikes are on display - probably 600 or so at a guess - but many are still capable of being run in classic bike events. Name any make of bike and there's probably a rare early example on display - BSA, Ariel, Sunbeam, Triumph, Velocette, Excelsior, Norton, Royal Enfield, Ducati, Laverda, Western Star, Indian....etc etc....

There were also plenty of pre-WWI bikes to marvel at - indeed, the oldest bike that I was able to find was a "Quadrant" which dated from 1898 and was little more than a small engine strapped onto a bicycle. The chain looked more like a necklace! Take a look....

Goodness only knows what the collection is worth or what it all costs to insure but for me, this is an important part of motorcycling's heritage. British companies were some of the earliest pioneers in motorcycling and this museum preserves the link with the past. At £6 entry, it's well worth a visit. 

Have a look at the photo album on the Box Hill or Bust Facebook page - you could even "like" or get involved, should you feel so disposed.... :-)

Box Hill or Bust on Facebook