St Barbe’s collection contains over 22,000 items relating to the area between the Solent Coast and the New Forest, with significant material about the surrounding towns and villages of Ashley, Barton, Bashley, Boldre, Downton, Everton, Keyhaven, Milford, New Milton, Pennington, Pilley, South Baddesley, Sway, Wootton and Tiptoe.

The collections and the stories that they tell reflect many aspects of life in the area from prehistory to the present day including domestic life, industry, shops, trades, farming, leisure, sport, war, holidays and the local environment.