Robert Owen Memorial Museum

Robert Owen was one of the most influential thinkers and social reformers of his time. The Robert Owen Museum in Newtown, Montgomeryshire houses a collection of objects, pictures and written material relating to the life of Robert Owen. The Museum tells Owen’s story and is in the centre of Newtown just a few feet from where Owen was born.

Robert Owen was born in 1771. At 10, he was sent to London to be apprenticed as a draper and by his early twenties he was a successful manager in the mills of Manchester. The working conditions there appalled him. He believed character was formed by experience and that the dreadful environment of child workers would inevitably lead to damaged and dehumanised adults.

So when, in his late twenties, Owen became a partner and manager of a large cotton mill at New Lanark on the River Clyde, he decided to create a model environment. He improved the factory and village, built a school and provided a shop where quality goods could be bought at a fair price. The school curriculum included music, dancing and nature study. Visitors came from all over the world – even the Tsar of Russia.

Owen campaigned and lectured throughout his life. In 1812-13 he wrote “A New View of Society” which explained his vision. He tried to repeat the success of New Lanark when in 1824 he created a model community in New Harmony, Indiana. The ideal was a village based on co-operation and profit sharing. New Harmony and similar experiments by his followers did not succeed as he had hoped. But his ideas continued to have influence and one group of followers in Rochdale set up the famous Co-operative shop in 1844 and pioneered the world wide co-operative movement.

Owen returned to Newtown at the end of his life and died there in 1858. Factory reform and universal education were achieved in the 19th century, and Owen’s vision for fairness and social progress remains a source of inspiration today.

Richmondshire Museum

We are a local history museum that is full of interesting exhibitions both permanent and seasonal. There are activities for children both daily and extra at certain times throughout the school holidays. Details of these can be found on our website. A perfect start to a stay in the beautiful town of Richmond.

Temple Newsam House

One of the great country houses of England set within a Capability Brown landscape surrounded by beautiful parkland which includes a working rare breeds farm, Temple Newsam has so much to offer visitors.Famous as the birth place of Lord Darnley, notorious husband of Mary Queen of Scots, Temple Newsam House is a truly impressive Tudor-Jacobean mansion. Described as the Hampton Court of the North with over 40 lovingly restored rooms to view, it is now home to one of the most important collections of decorative arts. Explore the treasures of silver, ceramics, fine art, Chippendale furniture, and wallpaper all housed within the Tudor Jacobean Mansion. Discover the stories of the people who lived at Temple Newsam by joining one of our regular weekly tours or picking up the FREE audio guide. Look out for holiday activities and craft fun for all ages and the changing programme of talks, concerts and theatre. Visit our special, changing programme of exhibitions. Take time to visit the gift shop offering a range of products inspired by the collections within the House followed by lunch or tea in the Stables Tea room. Explore the lakeside walks and gardens of delphiniums, rhododendrons, flocks and asters. See a variety of rare breed animals in Home Farm. Enjoy some leisure time and book our football pitches, enjoy a round of golf, walk in the woods and discover the folly or explore the bridle paths.

Holyhead Maritime Museum

Learn about shipwrecks, gallant rescues and pirates. Find out what it was like to sail on the Irish Sea 100 years ago. Visit our WW2 Air Raid Shelter and marvel at our collection of WW1 and WW2 memorabilia. You can even test out our authentic Air Raid Siren!

Carmarthenshire County Museum

The County Museum presents many aspects of Carmarthenshires’ rich and varied past. Displays include local archaeology, Egyptology, pottery, portraits, landscape paintings, Welsh furniture, costume, a Victorian schoolroom, life on the farm and the homefront in World War 2.

The building was once the palace of the Bishops of St. David’s (1542 – 1974) and it was here that the New Testament was first translated into Welsh in 1567. Visitors can still see the tranquil, private chapel used by the bishops.

Thwaite Mills Watermill Museum

National Maritime Museum

Royal Museums Greenwich comprises the Royal Observatory, Cutty Sark, National Maritime Museum and Queen’s House. Together we’re dedicated to enriching people’s understanding of the sea, the exploration of space, and Britain’s role in world history.

Lotherton Hall

Lotherton was the home of the Gascoigne family, who created a charming home in the days before the first World War. Given to Leeds City Council in 1968, the house boasts fine furniture and painting with collections of ceramics and superb displays of costume.See 200 magnificent species in the bird garden or stroll around the gardens or woods. There is a cafe on site as well as a playground for children or those young at heart.

The Regimental Museum of the Royal Welsh (Brecon)

On display at the museum, for all to see, is one of the finest collections of military artefacts. These tell the story of a regiment that has participated in many of the great events of British History in the last 300 years.

The focal point of the museum is the Zulu War Room. The exploits of the 24th Regiment during the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War are legendary. Queen Victoria referred her regiment as ‘The Noble 24th’. American writer Donald Morris, in his book “The Washing of the Spears”, told the story of this brief campaign; and Stanley Baker developed worldwide interest with his movie “Zulu” in which the events surrounding the heroic defence of Rorke’s Drift by B Company, 2/24th Regiment were recreated. Our Zulu War Room tells this compelling story of personal courage for all to see.

Other displays cover the involvement of the South Wales Borderers, Welch Regiment and Monmouthshire Regiment in the two World Wars. Many of the items have interesting, compelling and unusual stories to tell.

We have one of the finest collections of firepower that traces the development of soldiers’ weapons from the 18th Century to the present day.

Our Medal Room contains over 3,000 medals; each was earned in difficult and challenging circumstances; many soldiers made the ultimate personal sacrifice of their lives for these awards. Come and understand the individual stories behind the award of the eighteen Victoria Crosses, Britain’s highest award for gallantry, held in the collection.

Pictures and paintings, dioramas and drums, assegais and ammunition, buttons, badges and uniforms all combine to form a vivid image of life as a soldier; the young visitor can even try on a uniform red jacket and helmet to feel what was like to be a soldier in Victorian times – we have things to interest everybody of all ages.

Abbey House Museum

Step back in time and wander through the enchanting streets, shops and houses and experience life as a Victorian. As a fun, family-friendly and interactive museum, Abbey House Museum is a great day out for all the family. Come to one of our many family sessions as advertised on our website or pop in with friends for a trip down memory lane.On the ground floor visit Stephen Harding Gate, the 19th century equivalent of a modern high street, for some old fashioned retail therapy. In the back streets, see the home of the window washer woman or pop into the Sunday-School. On the first floor, see our Childhood and Community Galleries along with the changing programme of exhibitions. Abbey House Museum is situated directly across the road from the historical site of Kirkstall Abbey, set in wonderful parkland along the banks of the River Aire.