Harris Museum facts for kids
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The Harris building
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| Established | 1893 |
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| Location | Market Square, Preston, England |
| Type | Art Gallery and Public Library |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Harris Public Library, Museum and Art Gallery | |
| Designated: | 12 June 1950 |
| Reference #: | 1207306 |
The Harris Museum is a famous building in Preston, Lancashire, England. It's so important that it's a Grade I-listed site! Founded in 1877 by Edmund Harris, it's a place where you can explore local history and amazing art.
Contents
Discovering the Harris Museum's History
In the 1800s, towns could collect money to build libraries. The people of Preston really wanted a grand museum and library. They started raising money in 1850.
Then, in 1877, a lawyer from Preston named Edmund Robert Harris left a huge amount of money (around £300,000!) in his will. This money was for creating a public library, museum, and art gallery for the town.
The first library in Preston opened in 1879 in the Town Hall basement. A public museum also opened on Cross Street in 1880. They were so popular that the council decided to build a new, bigger home for both. Work on the Harris Museum began in 1882 and it officially opened its doors in 1893.
The Harris Museum's Amazing Design
The building was designed by a local architect named James Hibbert. He chose a Neo-Classical style. This style was a bit different from the popular Gothic Revival style of the time.
Outside the Harris Museum
Hibbert wanted the outside of the building to look simple, balanced, and refined. Unlike other famous buildings in this style, the Harris Museum has entrances at ground level. You don't need to climb lots of steps!
A large triangular section, called a pediment, is at the front. It has a beautiful sculpture inspired by a famous painting called The School of Athens. This sculpture was made by Edwin Roscoe Mullins. It shows the ancient Athenian leader Pericles surrounded by twelve other important men. It's considered Mullins' most important work.
Below the pediment, you can read the words To Literature, Arts and Science. There are also other inspiring messages carved into the sides of the building. Six tall, fluted columns support the pediment, making the entrance look grand.
Inside the Harris Museum
When you step inside, you'll see a huge central hall. It goes up over 120 feet to the ceiling of the lantern tower! There are three upper floors with balconies that look down onto this central space. Each floor has halls and exhibition areas where you can explore the collections.
The inside design also uses ideas from Ancient Greece, Assyria, and Egypt. You'll see columns and mosaic floors. There are also copies of famous Classical and Renaissance sculptures. These sculptures were meant to show the world's greatest art achievements. Today, you can still see Greek and Assyrian friezes on the upper floors. There's also a copy of Lorenzo Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise on the ground floor.
Exploring the Harris Museum's Collections
The Harris Museum has many different collections. They include fine art, decorative art, costumes, textiles, and history. There are also collections about archaeology and local history.
Discover Preston Gallery
The museum has a special history gallery called Discover Preston. It tells the story of Preston. It also has a "Discovery Room" with items from wider collections. One amazing highlight is the complete skeleton of the Poulton Elk. This Ice Age elk lived 13,500 years ago! It has two man-made barbed points stuck in its bones. This is the earliest sign of humans living in Lancashire.
Art and More
The fine art collection has over 800 oil paintings. These include works by famous artists like George Frederick Watts and Lucian Freud. There are also paintings by local artists. The decorative art collection shows British ceramics and glass. You can see these in the Ceramics and Glass Gallery. The museum also hosts modern art shows by artists from around the world.
Fun Science Inside
In the central hall, a Foucault pendulum hangs down through all the floors. It swings over a butterfly-shaped plate marked with the hours. Because the Earth rotates, this pendulum acts like a cool and fairly accurate clock! The building also has plaster casts of classical friezes. A 19th-century copy of the Baptistery doors from Florence is on the ground floor. These were part of the original design by architect James Hibbert.
The Harris Museum's Library
The Harris Museum also has Preston City's Public Library. It's run by Lancashire County Council. The first librarian, William Bramwell, worked there until he was 81!
The library has very important book collections. These include the Shepherd Collection, which was given to Preston in 1761. There are also local history materials, old journals, rare books, and art books. The Spencer collection has illustrated children's books and chapbooks. When the Harris Museum opened, the Dr Shepherd Library, which had been in different places, finally found a home there.
Gallery
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The Harris
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Detail of the sculptures above the columns
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The front of the building, as seen from the Flag Market
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The pediment, with the central figure of Pericles
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The entrance and rotunda from the first floor
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The gallery entrances from the first floor landing
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The skylight pyramid at the top of the main atrium
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In the Bey's Garden, by John Frederick Lewis, in the museum
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Copy of The Gates of Paradise - the east doors of The Florence Baptistery.
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In the Golden Olden Time, by John Atkinson Grimshaw, oil on canvas, c1870
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Scapa Flow by B. F. Gribble, depicting the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow on 18 November 1918, oil on canvas, 1920
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Blue hour photograph of the Harris Museum taken in the morning 5 March 2022
Exciting Renovation Project
The Harris Museum is getting a big makeover! In 2020, they received money from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. They submitted plans for a £10.7 million project called #HarrisYourPlace. The goal is to make the Harris the UK's first "blended" museum, art gallery, and library.
This project will fix important parts of the building, like the roof and stonework. It will also help with a long-standing damp problem. Some of the Harris's original architectural details, which have been hidden, will be revealed again. They are also reopening an old entrance to make the building easier to get into. A new lift and ground floor toilet will help disabled visitors. A new staircase will also be added.
These improvements are in addition to a £150,000 "Children's Place" project. This area is set to open in 2024. It will make the children's library space even better and improve facilities for school groups and families.
See also
- Listed buildings in Preston, Lancashire
