Bailiffgate Museum facts for kids
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| Location | Alnwick, Northumberland, England |
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The Bailiffgate Museum is a cool, independent museum located in Alnwick, Northumberland, England. It's all about the exciting history of Alnwick and the northern part of Northumberland. This museum is run by dedicated volunteers and trustees.
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What is the Bailiffgate Museum?
This museum is found in one of the oldest parts of Alnwick. It's super close to the famous Alnwick Castle. The museum is inside an old church called St Mary's Church, which was built in 1836. You can still see the original organ inside! As you explore the museum, you'll discover the amazing history of the region. They use cool displays, videos, and even hands-on activities to show you what life was like centuries ago.
What Can You See at Bailiffgate?
The Bailiffgate Museum has a special collection focused on Alnwick and the surrounding area. Most of the items tell stories about local people and their lives.
You can find all sorts of interesting things, like:
- Old farming tools
- Items people used in their homes
- Things from the railway
- Objects from coal mining
- Old printing equipment
- Lots of photos and paintings
There's even a rare fire pump from the 1700s! You can also learn about RAF Boulmer, a local Royal Air Force station.
In 2013, two items from the museum were chosen as "Top 100 items" for a project called "History of the North East in 100 Objects." These special items were:
- The Davison Bible: This Bible was printed by a local pharmacist and reformer named William Davison (publisher). He wanted to help more people learn about Christianity. So, instead of printing the whole Bible at once, he published it in 100 separate parts. Each part cost just one shilling!
- The Rothbury Football: This small leather "football" is stuffed with hay. It's not much bigger than a large handball. People used it in games between the villages of Thropton and Rothbury. The goals were Thropton Bridge and the porch of the Parish Church at Rothbury. This old football shows how sports have changed since medieval times!
The Rothbury Football was again named one of the Top 100 Objects in 2018.
How Does the Museum Help the Community?
The museum works closely with the local community. They also offer fun activities for schools and other educational groups. This helps young people learn about their local history.
Are There Special Art Shows?
Yes! The museum loves to support local artists. They have a separate gallery area where they hold exhibitions of their work.
Who is Stella Vine?
Artist Stella Vine grew up right here in Alnwick. She has shown her art at the Bailiffgate Museum. In 2004, she even gave three of her paintings to the museum's collection.
Two of these paintings were about her own life. One, called The Rumbling Kern (2003), shows a part of the Alnwick shoreline. The other, 27 Clayport Gardens (2004), shows Stella as a baby in a pram outside her grandmother's old house. The third painting, Belle (2004), shows Catherine Deneuve from the film Belle de Jour. This painting also includes collage, with a ribbon and a small picture of a bee stuck onto it.
In July 2006, Stella Vine came back to the museum. She held a family art workshop called People Pets and Places. She also had another exhibition there in 2019.
Can You Explore the Museum Online?
Yes, you can! The museum has a second website, www.bailiffgatecollections.co.uk. This website lets you see even more of their collection than what's on display in the museum.
One part of the website has a detailed list of all 1,300 local men who died in World War I. You can search through it easily. There are also hundreds of old photographs, including some of the very first portraits ever taken in Alnwick!
See also
- Alnwick
- Alnwick Castle
- Stella Vine (a local artist who has supported the museum)
- William Davison (publisher)
