i6a 
CLOSING OF THE 
OLD HORNIMAN MUSEUM, 
PREPARATORY TO THE 
ERECTION OF A NEW MUSEUM 
(See Next Page). 
4 
The attendance for the month of January, 1898, 
was as follows : — Museum, 15,324 (Gardens 19,253), 
making a grand total of 455,591 since the Museum 
was open to the public seven years ago. On the 
29th (the closing day), the figures were; Museum 5465, 
Gardens 11,803 5 total 17,268 visitors. 
The final public Fete was brought to a close on 
Saturday, J anuary 29th, Mr. and Mrs. Horniman drove 
from Croydon in the evening and inspected the 
Museum and Gardens, with their many friends, for the 
last time. At 9 o’clock Mrs. Horniman lighted the huge 
bonfire, which burnt up well and was seen for miles 
around. Fireworks followed. The whole of the 
Grounds were beautifully illuminated with Japanese 
lanterns and thousands of coloured fairy lights. The 
Sydenham Temperance and the Forest Hill Gasworks 
Bands were in attendance, and played alternately in 
the Grounds. 
At 10-30 p.m. bombs were let off as a signal that 
the Museum and Gardens were finally closed (after 
an existence of thirty years), in order to prepare for 
the building of a new Museum. Mr. and Mrs. 
Horniman left amidst the cheers of the crowd. 
R. Q. 
January 29th , 1898. 
