Hereford Museum and Art Gallery facts for kids
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| Established | 1874 |
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| Location | Broad Street, Hereford, Herefordshire, England HR4 9AU |
| Type | Regional museum, art gallery, history museum, decorative arts museum, natural history museum, local museum, archaeological museum |
The Hereford Museum and Art Gallery is a cool place in Hereford, England. It's both a museum and an art gallery. It first opened its doors in 1874.
This museum has about 1,000 items on display. You can learn about local history, see amazing natural science exhibits, and enjoy beautiful art. The museum is part of the Herefordshire Council's Museum Service. Currently, the museum and art gallery is closed for a big update.
Contents
History of the Museum
The story of the Hereford Museum and Art Gallery is closely linked to a group called the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club. This club started in 1851. Its goal was to study the natural history of Herefordshire and nearby areas. The club got its name from the Woolhope Dome, a special rock area near the village of Woolhope.
How the Museum Started
The Woolhope Club was founded at a meeting in Hereford. In 1869, the club's president, Sir James Rankin MP, made an exciting offer. He said he would give money to build a library and museum. This was during his speech on February 22, 1870.
The club's Museum Committee quickly agreed to his idea. They decided to build a museum with a public library. On May 2, 1871, a special committee met. They accepted Sir James Rankin's offer to buy land and build the new place. Rankin provided £1,750 to buy a piece of land on Broad Street.
The first stone for the building was laid in March 1873. The museum and library officially opened on October 8, 1874.
The Museum Building
The Hereford Times newspaper once called the Library and Museum building "truly an ornament of the city." It was designed by a local architect named Frederick Roberston Kempson.
Design and Features
Kempson's design was inspired by the Venetian Gothic revival style. This means it looks a bit like old buildings from Venice, Italy. The building has cool carvings of animals, plants, and signs of the zodiac on its front. It cost £7,600 to build. Sir James Rankin gave £6,115, and the City Council raised the rest.
When it first opened, the ground floor had two rooms facing Broad Street. These were meant to be reading rooms. However, they were rented out as shops to help pay for museum display cases. At the back was a large, tall lending library. The museum and the Woolhope Club Room were on the second floor. The top floors were living spaces for the librarian and curator.
Expanding the Building
Later, the building got bigger thanks to gifts from Sir Joseph Pulley MP and his nephew, Sir Charles Pulley MP. The City Council used this money to extend the building. This new part opened on April 12, 1912. It added a new lending and reference library on the ground floor. A new art gallery was built on the second floor. The museum connected to the new art gallery through beautiful oak doors. The first art show in April 1912 featured local artwork.
Modern Updates
The building had its first major update in 1900. Electric lights were installed, replacing the old gas lights. In 1963, a new floor was added above the lending library. This doubled the library's size. The building became a Grade II listed building on October 22, 1973. This means it's a special historic building.
The museum closed temporarily in September 2015 to remove asbestos. It reopened in July 2017. From 2020, after the COVID-19 lockdowns, only ten people could enter at a time due to structural issues. The building closed again on July 18, 2023, for a full redevelopment.
Early Displays
When the museum first opened in 1874, it didn't have any display cases. The cost of these cases wasn't included in the building plans. So, money was raised by renting out the ground floor rooms. By 1875, enough money was collected to make the display cases.
Members of the Woolhope Club were asked to donate interesting items to the museum. Other local history and nature groups also gave many items. Their donations became the foundation of the Herefordshire Museum Service's collections. In 1927, money was raised to display two Roman floor mosaics from Kenchester in the stair hall. The museum's collections grew a lot with the help of curators like Mr. F.C. Morgan.
Recent Displays
The museum's displays stayed mostly the same from 1960 until the early 2000s. This was because they expected the building to be renovated.
New and Interactive Exhibits
New hands-on displays were created with the Royal National College for the Blind. In 2005, the museum was the first in the United Kingdom to use the Talking Tactile Tablet (T3). This special tablet was developed at the Royal National College for the Blind.
Over the next 20 years, the displays were often changed and updated. When the museum closed for renovation in 2023, it had many interesting exhibits. These included a two-headed calf and a two-meter-long fish! There were also swords, old clothes, and items from prehistoric times up to the 20th century. During summer, a bee colony even lived there. A special area in the art gallery showed works by Brian Hatton, including some of his materials and letters.
Exhibitions
The art gallery often hosted temporary exhibitions. These showed craftwork, paintings, photography, and prints.
- In 2006, there was an exhibition celebrating Joseph Murray Ince.
- The designs of Christopher Dresser were shown in 2007.
- From August to October 2020, "The Ice Age in Herefordshire" exhibition explored local landscapes. It even had a life-sized Woolly Mammoth replica!
- The art gallery also hosted Grayson Perry's exhibition, "The Vanity of Small Differences," from October to December 2021. This show featured six tapestries that told a story about social class.
Redevelopment Plans
In July 2023, the National Lottery Heritage Fund announced a big award. They gave £5 million towards redeveloping the museum building. Herefordshire Council added £8 million, and the Stronger Towns Fund gave £5 million.
What's Coming Next
The plans for the museum are very exciting! They include:
- New galleries and display areas.
- A special space for temporary exhibitions.
- The restoration of the old Woolhope Club Room.
- New commercial areas, like a rooftop café.
- A brand new floor with a viewing beacon and roof terrace. This will offer amazing 360-degree views over Hereford and the surrounding countryside.
See also
