Dudley Museum and Art Gallery facts for kids
Meteorological instrument display on the corner of the former Dudley Museum
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| Established | 3 July 1883 |
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| Dissolved | 22 December 2016 |
| Location | Dudley, West Midlands |
| Type | Natural history and local interest |
The Dudley Museum and Art Gallery was a cool public museum and art gallery in the town of Dudley, West Midlands, England. It opened in 1883 and was located on St James's Road for many years. Although it closed its doors in 2016, some of its amazing collections have found a new home. They are now at the Dudley Archives centre on Tipton Road.
Discovering the Museum's Past
The Dudley Museum and Art Gallery has a long and interesting history. It was first planned as a Free Library and School of Art by the Dudley Borough Council. The first stone was laid on July 3, 1883, by Earl Beauchamp.
How the Art Gallery Began
Even though an art gallery was part of the plan, it didn't open right away. The gallery officially opened five years later, on August 1, 1888. The Mayor of Dudley, Benjamin Hingley, was there for the big opening.
Adding Amazing Fossils
In 1906, Dudley Council made a deal with the Dudley Geographical Society. They agreed to take over the society's collection of fossils and other cool items. The goal was to show these items in a museum for everyone to see. By 1911, this collection was set up in what used to be the library's lending area. It was ready for the public to enjoy in 1912.
A New Home for the Brooke Robinson Collection
A special collection from a former local MP and coroner, Brooke Robinson, was also moved to the museum. This collection had been kept in a special room at the nearby town hall. In 1979, it found a new home at the museum.
Why the Museum Closed
The Museum and Art Gallery was closed by Dudley Council on December 22, 2016. This was part of an effort to save money. But don't worry, many of the museum's items were moved!
Where the Collections Went
A big part of the museum's collection moved to the Dudley Archives centre. This new place is called 'Dudley Museum at The Archives'. It opened to the public in September 2017. This new facility also helps with the Black Country Geopark project. This project aims to get UNESCO Geopark status for the region's unique geological history.
Exploring the Museum's Exhibitions
The Dudley Museum and Art Gallery had many exciting things to see. Its permanent exhibitions showed off different parts of history, art, and local heroes.
Journey Through Geology
The geology exhibits were super important at the museum. They featured about 15,000 fossils from the local area. Many of these came from places like Wren's Nest hill. The two main geology exhibits were 'Dudley Unearthed' and 'Fantastic Fossils'.
Dudley Unearthed
The 'Dudley Unearthed' area had displays that connected the area's geology to the Industrial Revolution. It often changed to show new things about local and world geology. You could even learn about the Dudley Volcano! Fossils formed from this volcano's eruption, about 315 million years ago, were also on display.
Fantastic Fossils
'Fantastic Fossils' showed off amazing Silurian and Carboniferous fossils. You could see fossilized corals and shellfish. There were also Crinoids, Gastropods, Trilobites, and Cephalopods. The exhibit also included ancient worm tubes and fossils from old forests.
Meet the Dinosaurs!
The 'Return of the Dinosaurs' exhibit opened in 2007. It was famous for its large models of different dinosaur species. You could see a Baryonyx and even Thecodontosaurus, which is one of the earliest known dinosaurs!
The Brooke Robinson Collection
In 1911, local MP Brooke Robinson gave his collection of paintings, furniture, and other items to Dudley. These objects were shown in a special room at the museum. The collection included British and European paintings, furniture, and ceramics from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. There were also Japanese netsuke and inro, and special medals.
Celebrating Local Heroes
This room featured lots of items connected to local football legend Duncan Edwards. He was born in Dudley in 1936. Duncan was a famous player for Manchester United and the England national football team. He sadly passed away in 1958, at only 21, after the Munich air disaster. There were also plans to feature other local sports heroes in this area.
Amazing Art Collection
The museum also had a large collection of fine art. This included oil paintings, watercolours, and prints. These artworks were often rotated so visitors could see different pieces. Works by local artist Percy Shakespeare were among them.
Images for kids
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Meteorological instrument display on the corner of the former Dudley Museum
