Axminster Museum facts for kids
Axminster Museum was a museum located in the Old Police Station and Courthouse in the town of Axminster, Devon, England. It first opened its doors in 1982. The museum was a place where people could learn about the history of Axminster and its people.
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The Old Police Station and Courthouse
The building that housed the original Axminster Museum was called the Old Police Station and Courthouse. It was built in the 1860s. This stone building has two floors. It used to be a place where police worked and where court cases were heard. The main entrance today was once a large opening for carriages. This building is considered an important historical building.
What Was Inside the Museum?
The museum had many interesting things to see. It showed exhibits about Axminster's famous carpet industry. This industry was started by Thomas Whitty in 1755. You could also see old farming tools. There were items found from ancient times. The museum displayed old coins and medals. Visitors could look at historical clothes and fabrics. There were also many old photographs and important documents. Sometimes, the museum had special shows. A cool part was seeing the old police cells and the courtroom.
A New Home for the Collection
In 2015, a group called Axminster Heritage Ltd took over the museum's collection. They decided to move it to a new place. This new place was the nearby Heritage Centre. This move helped to keep the collection safe and well cared for.
The Heritage Centre Opens
In 2015, the Heritage Lottery Fund gave a grant of £69,700. This money helped create a new museum area. It was part of a bigger heritage centre project. This new centre was located in the Thomas Whitty House. This house was once the old carpet factory. The Heritage Centre opened in 2016. Many of the museum's exhibits moved into this new, larger space.
New Displays and a Special Loom
More funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund helped improve the museum area. The new displays opened in April 2019. A very special item was added. This was an original Crabtree Gripper Loom from 1937. This type of machine was used to make carpets. It had been used at the Axminster Carpet factory. This factory was opened in 1937 by Harry Dutfield.
Tourist Information
The building that used to be the museum also has another important role. It houses the town's tourist information centre. This is a place where visitors can get maps and learn about things to do in Axminster.
