List of museums in County Durham facts for kids
Welcome to the amazing world of museums in County Durham, England! Museums are special places where we collect and take care of important objects. These objects can be about history, art, science, or different cultures. They help us learn about the past and understand the world around us.
In County Durham, you can find many different kinds of museums. Some are in old castles, others show you how people lived long ago, and some are full of incredible art. Get ready to explore!
Contents
Historic Houses and Castles
These museums let you step back in time and see how people lived in grand homes and strong castles.
Auckland Castle: Home of Bishops
Auckland Castle in Bishop Auckland was the home of the Bishop of Durham for over 800 years. Imagine living in a castle for centuries! You can explore its history and see how these important leaders lived.
Durham Castle: A Norman Fortress
Durham Castle is a very old Norman castle in Durham. It's now part of University College, Durham, but you can still take guided tours. It's a great way to see a real medieval castle up close.
Raby Castle: Medieval Beauty
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Raby Castle in Staindrop is another stunning medieval castle. It has beautiful decorations from the 18th and 19th centuries. Outside, you can enjoy a large deer park and lovely gardens.
Rokeby Park: A Grand Country House
Near Greta Bridge, you'll find Rokeby Park. This is a grand country house built in the Palladian style. It's a wonderful example of historic architecture.
Open-Air and Living History Museums
These museums bring history to life, often outdoors, showing you what daily life was like in the past.
Beamish Museum: Step Back in Time
Beamish Museum in Beamish is an amazing open-air museum. It shows you what life was like in North East England in 1825 and 1913. You can see old trains, learn about farming, and explore industrial exhibits. It's like walking into a history book!
Hartlepool's Maritime Experience: A Seaport Adventure
At Hartlepool's Maritime Experience in Hartlepool, you can explore a recreated 18th-century seaport. It shows what life was like during the time of Lord Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar. You can even visit a real historic ship!
Art Galleries and Creative Spaces
If you love art, these places are full of paintings, sculptures, and other creative works.
Bishop Auckland Town Hall: Art and More
The Bishop Auckland Town Hall is more than just a town hall. It has Bishop Auckland's main public library, a theatre, and an art gallery. It's a hub for culture and learning.
Bowes Museum: A Treasure Chest of Art
The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle is famous for its huge collection. It includes fine art, decorative art, ceramics, textiles, and even old clocks and costumes. There's always something new and interesting to see.
Durham Art Gallery: Modern and Contemporary
The Durham Art Gallery in Durham focuses on modern and contemporary art. It shares a building with the DLI Museum, so you can see both art and history.
Hartlepool Art Gallery: Local and Contemporary
Operated by the Hartlepool Borough Council, the Hartlepool Art Gallery shows crafts, contemporary art, and photography. It's a great place to see local talent and new artistic ideas.
Spennymoor Town Hall Art Gallery: Community Art
The Spennymoor Town Hall Art Gallery is a municipal art gallery. It brings art to the community in Spennymoor.
Military and Maritime Museums
Learn about brave soldiers, historic battles, and life at sea.
DLI Museum: Military History
The DLI Museum in Durham tells the story of the Durham Light Infantry. This was a famous army regiment. You can learn about their history and bravery.
Heugh Battery Museum: Coastal Defense
The Heugh Battery Museum in Hartlepool is a restored 19th-century coastal defense battery. It shows how the coast was protected and tells stories of local artillery forces.
HMS Trincomalee: A Historic Frigate
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At Hartlepool, you can visit HMS Trincomalee. This is an early 19th-century Royal Navy frigate, a type of warship. It's now a museum ship, letting you explore what life was like for sailors long ago.
Mining and Industry Museums
Discover the tough but important work of miners and the history of industry in the region.
Durham Mining Museum: Northern Mining Stories
The Durham Mining Museum in Spennymoor focuses on the history of mining in the northern part of England. It's a great place to understand the region's industrial past.
Killhope: A Lead Mining Adventure
Killhope is a former 19th-century lead mine. You can explore the mine, see minerals, and learn about the daily lives of miners and their families.
Railway Museums
All aboard for a journey through the history of trains and railways!
Hopetown Darlington: Railway Heritage
Hopetown Darlington in Darlington is a heritage railroad and museum. It celebrates the rich history of railways in the area.
National Railway Museum Shildon: Train Collection
The National Railway Museum Shildon is a branch of the famous National Railway Museum. It has over 70 historic railway vehicles, including many impressive steam trains.
Tanfield Railway: Oldest Railway
The Tanfield Railway in Tanfield is a heritage railroad. It's one of the oldest railways in the world! You can see old locomotives and equipment.
Local History and Heritage Centers
These museums tell the stories of specific towns and communities.
Durham Museum and Heritage Centre: Local Stories
The Durham Museum and Heritage Centre in Durham focuses on the local history of the city. It's a great place to learn about the people and events that shaped Durham.
Museum of Hartlepool: Town and Sea
The Museum of Hartlepool tells the local history of Hartlepool. It also covers the town's maritime heritage. You can even visit the PS Wingfield Castle, a museum ship.
Preston Park Museum & Grounds: Victorian Life
Preston Park Museum & Grounds in Preston-on-Tees is a fun place to visit. It has a recreated Victorian street from the 1890s, period rooms, an armoury, and a toy collection.
Weardale Museum: Valley Life
The Weardale Museum in Ireshopeburn explores the local history of the Weardale valley. It covers mining, geology, farming, and even the history of the railway and John Wesley, a famous Methodist leader.
University Museums
These museums are often part of universities and hold special collections for study and public viewing.
Ankers House Museum: Medieval History
The Ankers House Museum is located at St Mary and St Cuthbert Church in Chester-le-Street. It's a medieval room once used by anchorites, who were religious hermits.
Museum of Archaeology: Ancient Discoveries
The Museum of Archaeology in Durham is part of the University of Durham. It's also known as the Old Fulling Mill Museum of Archaeology. Here you can see artifacts from prehistoric times, Ancient Greece, Roman times, and the medieval period.
Oriental Museum: Treasures from the East
The Oriental Museum in Durham is also part of the University of Durham. It has amazing artifacts from China, Egypt, Korea, Japan, and other parts of the Far East and Asia.
Palace Green Library: University Collections
The Palace Green Library in Durham is part of the Durham University Library. It has exhibits from the University's collections, including art, history, culture, and literature.
Durham Cathedral: A Sacred Place
Durham Cathedral in Durham is a very important religious site. It includes a tower you can climb, a monk's dormitory, and the shrine of Saint Cuthbert of Lindisfarne. There are also exhibits about how the cathedral was built and its long history.
Defunct museums
- Durham Miners Heritage Centre
- Vintage Vehicles Shildon, which closed in 2012.
See also
- Visitor attractions in County Durham
