The museum was founded to celebrate the achievements of local author John Creasey, who wrote books on politics and philosophy, and numerous crime and thriller novels. The collection includes political ephemera, books and manuscripts, as well as contemporary and modern art by artists and photographers of international standing, along with artists with an association with Wiltshire. Included in the collection are works by Bill Brandt, Fay Godwin, David Jones, Anish Kapoor, Henry Moore and Paul Nash.