With everyone talking again about opening ceremonies, we thought we would share this photograph with you of our very own opening ceremony.

This was taken on 29 June 1901 when the Horniman Museum and Gardens formally opened to the public, although both had been open for some years prior to this in different guises - take a look at the museum's history here.

Our gardens have been open to the public for 117 years today - they were first opened on 1 June 1895. This week, following a major development, they are re-opening.

Our new display gardens explore the links between the plants in our gardens and the collections in our museum, which was our founder Frederick Horniman's vision. He wanted the Museum and Gardens to be a place for “recreation, instruction and enjoyment”.

We hope you enjoy these archive photographs of the Museum and Gardens from the late 19th and early 20th century, and will spend some time enjoying our gardens over the coming summer.

Entrance to Horniman Museum and Gardens, early 20th century

Front of the Horniman Museum in 1896

Horniman water Gardens in 1924.

Dutch Barn on the Bandstand Terrace

Bandstand Terrace around 1903 / 1904

Rear view of the Bandstand from early 20th century

Bandstand and Terrace in 1911

Boating pond with railway in background, early twentieth century

The Avenue looking south towards London Road, late 19th century