Strawberry Hill House

Strawberry Hill House’s story begins in 1747, when Horace Walpole discovered and purchased ‘Chopp’d Straw Hall’, one of the last remaining sites available on the banks of the Thames in fashionable Twickenham. He set about transforming what was then a couple of cottages into his vision of a ‘little Gothic castle’ with pinnacles, battlements and a round tower. Thus Strawberry Hill House was born – the House became a tourist attraction in Walpole’s lifetime and beyond.

Built as Walpole’s summer residence, the castle (or villa) soon became of interest to local inhabitants. Walpole allowed four visitors a day – with tours conducted by his house-keeper – and published rules for their guidance (no children allowed). Walpole also delighted in entertaining foreign ambassadors, royalty and English aristocracy, several of whom were near neighbours: ‘Dowagers like flounders inhabit all around,’ he wrote.

Kirkstall Abbey

Uncover the history of one of the best preserved medieval Cistercian abbeys in Britain. With its beautiful and iconic ruins, award-winning Park and interactive visitor centre Kirkstall Abbey is a place that visitors of all ages can enjoy. The ruins are a unique example of early Christian architecture. From the majesty of the church to the peace of the cloisters enjoy exploring this iconic Leeds landmark. The story of the abbey and its community is explored in the Visitor Centre. Founded over 800 years ago in 1152 discover more about what life was like for the Cistercian monks who lived here for nearly 400 years. Enjoy the abbey’s parkland setting next to the River Aire. Take a walk along the river or enjoy a picnic in our spacious grounds. There is also a small playground near to the car park for the little ones to enjoy. The ruins of the abbey provide a breath-taking background to your wedding photography, blessings, vow renewals and baby naming ceremonies.

The Royal Mint Museum

The Royal Mint Museum was established as a company limited by guarantee in December 2009 and secured charitable status in November 2010. Its aims are to advance the education of the public in the history of coins and medals, and the history of The Royal Mint.

It seeks to achieve its aims through the maintenance, display, interpretation and publication of its unique collections of coins, medals and seals, as well as artwork, plaster models, master tools and dies.

Plans are being developed to facilitate greater access to the collection through education and outreach programmes, through exhibitions in the local area and nationally, through the creation of a comprehensive online catalogue and through a programme of publications.

The Museum celebrated its 200th Anniversary in February 2016, a few months later theRoyal Mint Experience  was completed, with a major feature being a large exhibition area featuring hundreds of objects from the Museum’s collection.

When the Royal Mint Museum was established as a company limited by guarantee in December 2009, another company was established at the same time, wholly owned by the Museum, called Royal Mint Museum Services.

Through this company historical and numismatic advice is offered to The Royal Mint in support of its commercial activities and support is also offered to HM Treasury in discharging its responsibility to manage the United Kingdom coinage.

Brynmawr and District Museum

Brynmawr Museum was created by the community and the inaugural meeting of the society was held on 4th September 2002, and the official opening of the Museum took place in temporary premises on the first floor of the then Haven Discount Store, Market Square 7th June 2003.

Having been allocated permanent premises by the County Borough Council on the first floor of the former Carnegie Library, the Museum closed its temporary premises on 27th September, 2003, and re-opened in its new location on 6th December 2003, sharing the building with the Council’s Open Learning Centre, which was then located on the ground floor.

When the Learning Action Centre moved to its current premises, the County Borough Council agreed to lease the whole of the Carnegie Building to the Museum and also to refurbish the ground floor prior to occupation by the museum. The Council had already refurbished the first floor for occupation by the Museum.

The Museum was again closed for a short time whilst refurbishment took place. It re-opened on 27th July, 2006.

During the period from inauguration to final occupation of the whole of the Carnegie Library building, and, indeed, until the present time, the Society has been fortunate in obtaining grants from various bodies and donations from private individuals, which has enabled the purchase of display cases, furniture and equipment.

There is a strong community involvement, and the museum is totally run by volunteers,with Patrons and Vice-Presidents and an active Archive Group, to date, membership of the society consist of vice presidents and patrons, and each year membership averages 125.

Since the Museum opened, visitors average 4,000+ per year, many from overseas and many “ex pats”. A good number, as the museum is only open 13 hours a week!!

Firing Line Museum of the Welsh Soldier

Firing Line Museum is an accredited museum that celebrates the Welsh soldier over a period of 300 years; a time which saw ordinary Welshmen travel the world, carrying out military service at battles such as Waterloo (1815) and Rorke’s Drift (1879), and more recently in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Using hands-on and dressing up activities, informative permanent and temporary displays and educational events, the museum stands as a testament to the extraordinary contributions made by ordinary Welshmen to their Regiments (1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards and The Royal Welsh), to history and to Wales.

MShed

See amazing film and photographs, listen to moving personal stories, encounter rare and quirky objects and add your own memories of Bristol through the interactive displays. From prehistoric times to the present day, M Shed tells the story of the city and its unique place in the world.

University of Salford Art Collection

The University of Salford Art Collection began in the late 1960’s. It now holds around 700 works in its permanent collection, which is stored and displayed on campus for the benefit of students, staff, alumni and the public; as well as being made available for loans for museums and galleries both in the UK and internationally.

The early collection policies were quite broad, but consisted mainly of post-war and contemporary British print-making, painting and photography. In particular works with a connection to Salford or Greater Manchester were acquired; including examples by Northern school painters (Adolphe Valette, LS Lowry and Harold Riley) and prints by the Manchester Print Workshop (Adrian Henri and Kip Gresham).

Over the years the collection has evolved to include an extensive body of work by expressionist painter Albert Adams and a number of works by the Young British Artists (YBA’s).

Since 2013, there has been a more clearly defined and articulated approach which focuses on three collecting areas: About the Digital, Chinese, Contemporary Art and From the North. The University of Salford Art Collection places great emphasis on partnership working and co-commissioning in order to develop the collection and exhibition programmes further.

Museum Accreditation from Arts Council England was renewed in 2016.

The Ropewalk

PRESERVING HALL’S BARTON ROPERY
The Ropewalk Museum pays tribute to the history of the rope making factory, Hall’s Barton Ropery, dates back to between 1800 and 1803 with the building of a “modern” rope works, including the characteristic “walk”” on the site after Thomas Hall and his son William purchased land on the east side of Barton Haven.

The foundation of the Hall-Mark company itself dates back to 1767 when the Halls, a wealthy ship-owning family from Hull, first became involved in rope making in Barton.

The Ropewalk Museum is part of The Ropewalk arts centre which is housed in the Grade II listed building which stretches a quarter of a mile along the length of Barton Haven. Now an Accredited Museum it contains displays, artifacts and other memorabilia associated with the history of the factory and its workforce
Some of the artefacts on display and in store were rescued when Hall’s Barton Ropery closed for the final time in 1989 while others were donated by former employees and their families.

Suffolk Regiment Museum

The museum was opened in 1935. It was housed in various buildings on the Regimental Depot site, including the Sergeants’ Mess and Officers’ Mess, before moving in 1968 to its present location in the former Armoury. The first floor room is where, by the 1930s, new recruits were fitted out with their uniform and equipment.

The displays tell the story of the regiment from its foundation in 1685 to amalgamation with the Royal Norfolk Regiment in 1959. The history covers the regular, militia, volunteer and war-time battalions as well as the experience of individual soldiers and is told through medals, uniforms, photographs, weapons, equipment and personal memorabilia. A small display at Moyses Hall Museum in Bury St Edmunds gives an overview of the story, while the regimental archive and photograph collection are on deposit at the Bury St Edmunds branch of the Suffolk Record Office.

West Stow Anglo-Saxon Museum

One of England’s great archaeological sites, West Stow has extensive indoor galleries and a stunning recreation of an Anglo-Saxon village surrounded by 125 acres of unspoilt countryside.

Visitors to West Stow can explore history and nature, watch a film, dress up as an Anglo-Saxon or say hello to the rare breed pigs and chickens. As part of the annual RingQuest event, you could even meet a Hobbit, among other Lord of the Rings characters!

History

West Stow is the site of an early Anglo-Saxon village, occupied from AD 420-650, over 400 years before the Norman Conquest.

In 1976 the West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village Trust was formally established to manage the site, at that stage there were three reconstructed houses within the village. The trust was registered as a charity by the Charity Commissioners in 1977 (Charity no. 272897). West Suffolk’s Heritage Team currently manages the day-to-day running of the reconstructed Anglo-Saxon village on behalf of the trust.

The reconstructed village now consists of eight buildings:

• craft building
• farmers house
• hall building
• living house
• oldest house
• sunken house
• weaving house
• workshop