Keith Walker - Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum
27th February 2026
In: News, Members' Articles
Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum
Hidden in the New Forest near Bashley is the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum. The Museum is home to over 300 immaculately restored machines and is in Trust. The Museum first opened in 1964 but the current complex, which includes the essential cafe, opened in 2020.
Sammy Miller is now well over 90 years young and can be found working in the Museum’s restoration shop most days, or certainly every time I have visited. Miller has an impressive resume as a rider; 11 times British Trials Champion and twice European Trials Champion. He is winner of over 1300 Trials, 9 Gold Medals and the International Six Days Trial, as well as coming 3rd in the 1967 250cc Grand Prix. He has ridden the Isle of Man TT and numerous other events, In 2007 he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
As you walk around the collection one of the things that you keep finding yourself saying is ‘‘I have never heard of that make” There was a great number of motorbike manufacturers in the early days that did not survive. What is also evident is the ingenuity and skill of the designers and engineers involved. What happened?
The following images will hopefully give you a flavour of the place, and it is well worth a visit if you are ever holidaying in or near the New Forest.
All the photographs were taken on a Leica M10 / 35mm Summilux FLE.
Keith Walker
Supercharged and Water Cooled
Racing Bikes
Nortons Get Their Own Room
My Friend Paul Doing His Thing
First Floor
Before Electrical Assistance
Hidden in the New Forest near Bashley is the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum. The Museum is home to over 300 immaculately restored machines and is in Trust. The Museum first opened in 1964 but the current complex, which includes the essential cafe, opened in 2020.
Sammy Miller is now well over 90 years young and can be found working in the Museum’s restoration shop most days, or certainly every time I have visited. Miller has an impressive resume as a rider; 11 times British Trials Champion and twice European Trials Champion. He is winner of over 1300 Trials, 9 Gold Medals and the International Six Days Trial, as well as coming 3rd in the 1967 250cc Grand Prix. He has ridden the Isle of Man TT and numerous other events, In 2007 he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.
As you walk around the collection one of the things that you keep finding yourself saying is ‘‘I have never heard of that make” There was a great number of motorbike manufacturers in the early days that did not survive. What is also evident is the ingenuity and skill of the designers and engineers involved. What happened?
The following images will hopefully give you a flavour of the place, and it is well worth a visit if you are ever holidaying in or near the New Forest.
All the photographs were taken on a Leica M10 / 35mm Summilux FLE.
Keith Walker
Supercharged and Water Cooled
Racing Bikes
Nortons Get Their Own Room
My Friend Paul Doing His Thing
First Floor
Before Electrical Assistance