Corinium Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1938 |
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| Location | Cirencester |
| Collection size | over 60,000 objects |
The Corinium Museum is a cool place to visit in Cirencester, a town in the Cotswolds area of England. It has a huge collection of amazing objects found right there in the local area. Most of the things you'll see are from the ancient Roman town called Corinium Dobunnorum. But the museum also shows off items from much, much older times, like the Neolithic period (Stone Age), all the way up to the Victorian era.
Contents
A Look at the Museum's History
The very first museum in Cirencester was started by the Bathurst family. It opened its doors way back in 1850. That original building is still standing today on Tetbury Road.
How the Museum Grew
Later, the private collections of the Cripps and Bathurst families were combined. This led to a brand new museum being built. It opened in 1938. The museum was then given to the Cotswold District Council. It officially reopened on November 26, 1974, with the Duke of Gloucester attending.
Modern Updates and Discoveries
The museum has been updated several times to make it even better. From 2002 to 2004, it had a big makeover called the 'Corinium Project'. More recently, between 2018 and 2020, the early galleries were completely redone. This project was called 'Stone Age to Corinium'.
The museum is famous for its incredible Roman mosaic floors. These beautiful artworks date from the 2nd to 4th centuries. You can also see many Roman sculptures and countless other Roman objects, both big and small.
What You Can Explore Inside
As you walk through the Corinium Museum, you'll discover different time periods.
Prehistoric Cotswolds
One part of the museum shows what life was like in the Cotswolds long, long ago, even before the Romans arrived.
The Iron Age and Anglo-Saxons
You can learn about the Iron Age, including items found at an ancient hillfort called Bagendon. There's also a special Anglo-Saxon gallery. This section features amazing objects found at an Anglo-Saxon burial ground in Lechlade, called Butler's Field.
Medieval Cirencester and Wool Trade
The medieval gallery explores the history of the Cirencester Abbey. You'll also learn how the wool trade became very important in the area during later times.
The Museum Building Itself
Part of the museum building today used to be a house called Abberley House. It was built in the mid-1700s. This building is considered a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical structure.
External Links
- Corinium Museum Official Website: https://coriniummuseum.org/
