Almonry Museum and Heritage Centre facts for kids
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| Established | 1957 |
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| Location | Evesham, England |
The Almonry Museum and Tourist Information Centre is a fascinating museum in Evesham, England. It's often called "The Almonry." This museum is looked after by the Evesham Town Council. Its main goal is to show visitors the rich history of the town and the beautiful Vale of Evesham area. The museum gets its name from its original purpose. It was once the almonry of the 14th-century Evesham Abbey. The museum officially opened in this historic building in 1957.
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A Look Back in Time: The Almonry's History
The Almonry Museum is located in a very old building from the 1300s. This building was once part of the Benedictine Evesham Abbey. This abbey was the third largest in all of England! An almonry was the home of the almoner. This was a special monk whose job was to give alms (help or charity) to people in need.
Evesham Abbey was closed down by King Henry VIII. This happened during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. After the abbey closed, the Almonry became the home of the last Abbot, Philip Ballard. Today, you can still see parts of the old abbey nearby. These include two churches, a bell tower, and a cloister arch.
The Almonry building is very important. It is a grade I listed building, which means it's a historic place that needs to be protected. It was first listed in 1952. The building is made from a mix of stone and wood. It has a special roof made of Cotswold stone. More parts were added to the building in the 1400s and 1600s.
After the abbey closed, the Almonry building had many different uses. It was an ale house, offices, tea rooms, and even a private home. In 1929, the Evesham Borough Council bought it. It then opened as a heritage centre in 1957.
Discovering the Collections and Exhibitions
The museum has displays spread across 12 small rooms. Each room focuses on a different part of Evesham's history. You can learn about Evesham Abbey and the famous Battle of Evesham from 1265. There are also exhibits on local farming and ancient Anglo-Saxon burial treasures. You can see 18th-century clothing and learn how wars affected Evesham.
The museum's collections also cover wider topics. These include palaeontology (the study of fossils) and archaeology (the study of human history through digging up old things). There is also a collection of beautiful fine art.
How the Museum Works
The Almonry Museum is owned and run by the Evesham Town Council. It shares its historic building with the Evesham Tourism Office. The museum has been given "Full Accreditation status" by Arts Council England. This means it meets high standards for museums in England.
Exciting Future Plans
In 2013, a project called "The Great Big Almonry Project" began. Its goal was to raise money for three main things. First, to better protect the old building itself. Second, to make the exhibitions and programs more interesting for visitors. Third, to make the museum easier for everyone to access.
In 2014, the project received good news. It passed the first round of a funding bid from the Heritage Lottery Fund. They were given £43,400 to help plan for a bigger bid. The bigger bid was for £1,355,100. This money would help make all their exciting plans come true.
