Keswick Museum facts for kids
Keswick Museum and Art Gallery in 2011
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| Established | 1873 |
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Keswick Museum is a special place in Keswick, a town in the amazing English Lake District. It's a local museum that shows off the cool landscape, interesting history, and unique culture of the area. It's a great spot to learn about what makes this part of England so special!
The Story of Keswick Museum
How the Museum Began
The museum's collection first started way back in 1873. It was called the Keswick Museum of Local and Natural History. This idea came from a group called the Keswick Literary and Scientific Society. They kept the first items in a building called the Moot Hall.
A Giant Map of the Lake District
One of the most important things in that first collection was a huge, 3D model of the Lake District. It was made by Joseph and James Flintoft in 1837. Imagine a map that's 12 feet long and 9 feet wide – that's bigger than most bedrooms!
Moving to a New Home
The museum's collection grew, and it needed a bigger home. So, in 1897, it moved to a building specially built for it in Fitz Park. This new building was created to remember the Hewetson brothers. They were important people who had given a lot to the town of Keswick.
A Famous Visitor
In 1906, a very important person came to open the art gallery at the museum. This was Cannon Hardwicke Rawnsley. He was one of the people who helped start the National Trust. The National Trust is a big charity that helps protect beautiful places and historic buildings in England.
Keeping the Museum Going
Over the years, the group that looked after Fitz Park had some money problems. But don't worry, the museum's collection was saved! In April 1994, the Allerdale Council stepped in to help.
Later, in February 2007, a new group was formed. It was called Keswick Museum and Art Gallery Management Limited. Their job was to run the museum for the council.
A Big Renovation
The museum building got a huge makeover between September 2012 and May 2014. It cost about £2.1 million! A lot of the money came from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This fund helps pay for projects that protect and celebrate Britain's heritage. Thanks to this, the museum is now even better for visitors!
What You Can Discover at the Museum
The Amazing Collection
The museum has a huge collection of about 20,000 different objects! But you won't see all of them at once. Only about 5% to 10% are on display at any time. This means there's always something new to see if you visit again!
Where the Objects Come From
While the museum has items from all over northern Cumbria, it now mostly collects things from a specific area. This area is called the "Derwent Seven Parishes," which is roughly the CA12 postcode area around Keswick.
Highlights of the Collection
The museum's collection includes many fascinating items that show the landscape, history, and culture of Keswick.
The Musical Stones of Skiddaw
One of the most unique things you'll find is called The Musical Stones of Skiddaw. These are like special musical instruments called lithophones. They were made over two centuries using a type of stone called hornfels. This stone comes from the nearby Skiddaw mountain. People say this stone makes a better sound and rings longer than other stones often used for lithophones.
Unusual and Historic Items
You can also see some really interesting and sometimes surprising objects:
- A 700-year-old cat! It was found mummified (naturally preserved) inside the wall of a church near Clifton.
- An old-fashioned penny-farthing bicycle. These bikes have one giant front wheel and a tiny back wheel!
- A man-trap. This was a type of trap used a long time ago to catch people who were trespassing.
The Hugh Walpole Collection
The museum also has a special collection related to a famous writer named Hugh Walpole. It includes the original handwritten copies of all his Herries novels. These four books are set right here in the Lake District! You can also see letters that 13 other important English writers sent to Walpole.
Mountain Heritage Exhibitions
The Mountain Heritage Trust often has changing exhibitions at the museum. These shows focus on amazing stories from mountain climbing and exploration. For example, in 2018 and 2019, they had a show called "Man and Mountain" that featured the famous climber Chris Bonington. In 2019 and 2020, their exhibition focused on another climber named Siegfried Herford.
