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Deryn and I had a late flight so needed to kill a few hours in the morning. We walked up from Dulwich and entered what must be one of the strangest museums. The Horniman houses an eclectic collection of objects with no real theme holding them together. Preserved bugs and butterflies are within reach of voodoo shrines, musical instruments and Hindu and Buddhist figurines. The history of how the museum came into being, below, perhaps explains this mix.

Still it’s much loved and still attracts attendees and during our visit hundreds of tiny kids lining up for the dinosaur exhibition. It also proved a rich seam for amateur photographers! As my photography collection too lacks a theme I had no restrictions in capturing some these treasures.

“Frederick John Horniman, Victorian tea trader and philanthropist, began collecting objects, specimens and artefacts 'illustrating natural history and the arts and handicrafts of various peoples of the world' from around 1860. His overarching mission was to 'bring the world to Forest Hill' and educate and enrich the lives of the local community.

His travels took him to far flung destinations such as Egypt, Sri Lanka, Burma, China, Japan, Canada and the United States collecting objects which 'either appealed to his own fancy or that seemed to him likely to interest and inform those who had not had the opportunity to visit distant lands'. Mr Horniman’s interest as a collector was well known and many travellers approached him with specimens and curiosities.

By the late nineteenth century, these 'natural, industrial and artistic spoils had accumulated to such an extent that he gave up the whole house to the collections'.

His wife is reported to have said 'either the collection goes or we do'. With that, the family moved to Surrey Mount.”