Hertford Museum facts for kids
Hertford Museum is a cool place to visit in Hertford, which is the main town of Hertfordshire, England. It's a local museum, meaning it focuses on the history and stories of the area right around it.
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Exploring Hertford Museum
The museum first opened its doors in 1903. It's located in a really old building – a 17th-century town house. This house even has a special garden called a Jacobean-style knot garden, which is a garden with paths and plants arranged in a fancy, knot-like pattern.
What You'll See Inside
When you step inside, the ground floor shows you the museum's early days. You can see interesting things like exotic animals, ancient fossils, and even Japanese armour. As you go upstairs to the first floor, you'll discover the history of Hertford town and the people who lived there. The museum has many different collections. These include local history, military items, natural history, and stories about how people lived. There are also displays on archaeology (studying old human history), fine art, and geology (the study of rocks and Earth).
The Toothbrush Collection
Did you know the museum has about 5,000 toothbrushes? These are part of the Addis Collection. The Addis factory used to be a big employer in Hertford until 1996. It made toothbrushes! Since the factory closed, Hertford Museum has collected photos and papers about it. They also recorded stories from people who used to work there.
Learning and Fun at the Museum
The museum works with schools to offer fun and educational activities. For example, Little Munden Primary School worked with the museum on a special project. They created an exhibition about their local area from 1830 to 1930. This helps students learn about history in an exciting, hands-on way.
A New Look for the Museum
The museum closed for a big update in Winter 2008. This major refurbishment was mostly paid for by a grant from the UK Heritage Lottery Fund. It reopened its doors on February 27, 2010, looking brand new and ready for more visitors!
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