Celebrating the People Who Built Peterborough’s Cultural Legacy
Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery is more than just a building filled with artefacts and artwork—it is a space brought to life by the passionate individuals who have shaped its history, curated its collections, and continue to inspire visitors today.
Ann Maxwell Davis
d. 1938
Mrs Anne Maxwell Davis of Hove, whose generous £10,000 bequest funded the construction of a gallery at Peterborough Museum in 1939. Though the gallery remained empty due to the outbreak of war, it was finally completed and opened to the public in 1952, fulfilling her vision for the space.
Dr Thomas James Walker
1835-1916
A pioneering surgeon at Peterborough Infirmary (now the Museum) from 1862 to 1906. A Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, he was the first in Britain to remove a growth from the larynx and a leading advocate for purpose-built operating theatres to reduce infection risk.
He researched and wrote “The Depot for Prisoners of War at Norman Cross, Huntingdonshire, 1796 to 1816”, published in 1913.
In 1900 he also wrote “Notes on two Anglo-Saxon Burial-places at Peterborough”. (Read at the Peterborough Congress, 1898), and in 1899: “The Traces of the Roman Occupation left in Peterborough and the Surrounding District.” (Read at the Peterborough Congress, July 14th, 1898).
Sir Percy Malcolm Stewart
1872-1951
A prominent industrialist and philanthropist whose legacy extends beyond the brick industry to the cultural heritage of Peterborough. As the chairman of the London Brick Company, he played a pivotal role in the region’s economic growth, but his contributions to Peterborough’s cultural landscape were equally significant.
In 1931, Stewart purchased the historic Priestgate Mansion, the former home of Peterborough’s infirmary, and generously donated it to the city. This act of philanthropy transformed the building into what is now Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery, providing a permanent home for the city’s historical collections and artistic exhibitions. His gift laid the foundation for one of Peterborough’s most important cultural institutions, ensuring that the city’s rich heritage would be preserved and accessible to future generations.