List of museums in Staffordshire facts for kids

This list tells you about museums in Staffordshire, England. Museums are special places where interesting objects from the past or about art, science, or history are kept and shown to the public. They help us learn about different times and ideas. This list also includes art galleries that are open to everyone.

Name	Image	Town/City	Region	Type	Summary
AirSpace Gallery		Stoke-on-Trent	Stoke-on-Trent	Art	contemporary art gallery
Ancient High House		Stafford	Stafford	Historic house	Elizabethan timber-framed town house with different period room furnishings and displays, including the English Civil War, Edwardian and Victorian eras
Apedale Heritage Centre		Chesterton	Newcastle-under-Lyme	Mining	Coal mining history, artifacts, mine tours, Moseley Railway Trust's collection of narrow gauge industrial locomotives
Bratch Pumping Station		Bratch	South Staffordshire	Technology	Victorian pumping station with steam engine, not currently open
Brindley's Mill and the James Brindley Museum		Leek	Staffordshire Moorlands	Mill	18th-century water-powered corn mill, exhibits about 18th-century canal builder James Brindley
Cheddleton Flint Mill		Cheddleton	Staffordshire Moorlands	Industry	Water mill built to grind flint for use in the pottery industry, miller's cottage, flint kilns, drying kiln and outbuildings
Chillington Hall		Brewood	South Staffordshire	Historic house	18th-century Georgian country house, reflects 800 years of family ownership, landscape designed by Capability Brown
Claymills Pumping Station		Burton upon Trent	East Staffordshire	Technology	Restored Victorian sewage pumping station with beam engines
Dudson Museum		Stoke-on-Trent	Stoke-on-Trent	Industry	history of the Dudson ceramic tableware company and ceramic items collection
Erasmus Darwin House		Lichfield	Lichfield	Historic house	18th-century-period home of poet and physician Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of naturalist Charles Darwin, biographical, science and poetry exhibits
Etruria Industrial Museum		Etruria	Stoke-on-Trent	Industry	19th-century bone and flint mill built to grind materials for the pottery industry, features working steam engine
Ford Green Hall		Smallthorne	Stoke-on-Trent	Historic house	17th-century timber-framed yeoman farmer's house with 17th-century furnishings, textiles, ceramics, and a period garden
Gladstone Pottery Museum		Longton	Stoke-on-Trent	Industry	Victorian pottery factory for making bone china tableware, includes original equipment, kilns, period doctor's house, decorative tile gallery, collection of Victorian decorative toilets
Izaak Walton's Cottage		Stafford	Stafford	Historic house	16th-century half-timbered cottage home of author Izaak Walton, exhibits on his life and the history of fishing
Keele University Art Gallery		Keele	Newcastle-under-Lyme	Art
Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses		Kinver	South Staffordshire	Historic house	Operated by the National Trust, high sandstone ridge once home to Britain's last cave dwellers, features Holy Austin Rock Houses restored to Victorian appearance
Lichfield Museum		Lichfield	Lichfield	Local	Local history, features Staffordshire Millennium Embroideries with panels reflecting 1000 years of city history
Mill Meece Pumping Station		Millmeece	Stafford	Technology	Early-20th-century pumping station with steam engines
Moorcroft Heritage Visitor Centre		Burslem	Stoke-on-Trent	Industry	guided factory tour and museum with Moorcroft pottery
Moseley Old Hall		Fordhouses	South Staffordshire	Historic house	Operated by the National Trust, 17th-century-period house and garden, famous as one of the hiding places of King Charles II after his defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651
Museum of Cannock Chase		Hednesford	Cannock Chase	Multiple	local history, coal mining, turn-of-the-century miner's cottage, 1940s room, toys
National Brewery Centre		Burton upon Trent	East Staffordshire	Industry	History of brewing, brewing artifacts, vintage vehicle collection, working steam engine
Newcastle Museum & Art Gallery		Newcastle-under-Lyme	Newcastle-under-Lyme	Multiple	also known as Borough Museum & Art Gallery, Victorian street scene including ironmonger, pawnbroker and chemist shops, doctor's office, toys, 1930s-1940s period house, exhibits of contemporary design and crafts
Nicholson Museum & Art Gallery		Leek	Staffordshire Moorlands	Art
Potteries Museum & Art Gallery		Hanley	Stoke-on-Trent	Multiple	Fine art, decorative arts including collection of Staffordshire ceramics, local history, natural history
Raven Mason Collection		Newcastle-under-Lyme	Newcastle-under-Lyme	Art	operated by Keele University, collection of Mason ironstone and porcelain items, located in Keele Hall
Redfern’s Cottage: Museum of Uttoxeter Life		Uttoxeter	East Staffordshire	Local	local history
Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum		Lichfield	Lichfield	Biographical	Reconstructed rooms, life and work of author Samuel Johnson
Shire Hall Gallery		Stafford	Stafford	Art	Exhibits of visual art, crafts and photography, also restored 19th-century court room
Shugborough Hall		Milford	Cannock Chase	Living	Owned by the National Trust and operated by Staffordshire County Council, 18th-century-period country house, walled kitchen garden and working model farm including operating water mill and museum - "The Complete Working Historic Estate"
Spode Works Visitor Centre		Stoke-on-Trent	Stoke-on-Trent	Industry	History and examples of Spode pottery and porcelain
Stafford Castle		Stafford	Stafford	History	Ruined remains of a 19th-century recreation of a medieval castle, visitor centre exhibits about the original and current castles, medieval life displays
Staffordshire County Museum		Milford	Cannock Chase	Local	Located in the Servants' Quarters of Shugborough Hall
Staffordshire Regiment Museum		Whittington	Lichfield	Military	Regimental history, uniforms, weapons, medals, regalia, replica World War I trench, armoured vehicles
Staffordshire Yeomanry Museum		Stafford	Stafford	Military	Located in the attic floor of the Ancient High House, history and memorabilia of the Staffordshire Yeomanry
Tamworth Castle		Tamworth	Tamworth	Historic house	11th-century Norman motte-and-bailey castle with late medieval Great Hall, Tudor chambers and Victorian suit of receptions rooms
Letocetum / Wall Roman Site		Wall	Lichfield	Archaeology	Operated by English Heritage, owned by the National Trust as "Letocetum Roman Baths and Museum", remains of a Roman settlement and museum of artifacts
Wedgwood Museum		Barlaston	Stafford	Art	History and displays of Wedgwood ceramics, founder Josiah Wedgwood, process of making the ceramics
Weston Park		Weston-under-Lizard	South Staffordshire	Historic house	17th-century-period grand house and gardens, estate with landscape designed by Capability Brown, art gallery in a restored 17th-century granary
Whitmore Hall		Whitmore	Newcastle-under-Lyme	Historic house	17th-century house open on a limited basis

Historic Homes and Famous People's Houses

These museums let you step back in time and see how people lived long ago.

Ancient High House

The Ancient High House in Stafford.

• Location: Stafford
• What it is: This is a beautiful old timber-framed house from the Elizabethan era. You can explore rooms set up to look like different time periods, including the English Civil War and Victorian times.

Chillington Hall

Chillington Hall, a grand country house.

• Location: Brewood
• What it is: An 18th-century country house with a long family history. The gardens were designed by the famous landscape architect Capability Brown.

Erasmus Darwin House

The home of Erasmus Darwin.

• Location: Lichfield
• What it is: The 18th-century home of Erasmus Darwin, a poet and doctor. He was the grandfather of Charles Darwin. The museum has exhibits about his life, science, and poetry.

Ford Green Hall

Ford Green Hall, a 17th-century farmhouse.

• Location: Smallthorne (Stoke-on-Trent)
• What it is: A 17th-century farmhouse with furniture, textiles, and ceramics from that time. It also has a period garden.

Izaak Walton's Cottage

Izaak Walton's historic cottage.

• Location: Stafford
• What it is: This 16th-century cottage was the home of author Izaak Walton. You can learn about his life and the history of fishing.

Kinver Edge and the Rock Houses

The unique Holy Austin Rock Houses.

• Location: Kinver
• What it is: These are homes carved into sandstone cliffs. They were once home to Britain's last cave dwellers. The Holy Austin Rock Houses are restored to look like they did in Victorian times. It's run by the National Trust.

Moseley Old Hall

Moseley Old Hall, a hiding place for a king.

• Location: Fordhouses
• What it is: A 17th-century house and garden, also run by the National Trust. It's famous because King Charles II hid here after a battle in 1651.

Samuel Johnson Birthplace Museum

The birthplace of Samuel Johnson.

• Location: Lichfield
• What it is: This museum shows the life and work of the famous writer Samuel Johnson. You can see reconstructed rooms from his time.

Shugborough Hall

Shugborough Hall, a grand estate.

• Location: Milford
• What it is: An 18th-century country house with a walled kitchen garden and a working farm. It's known as "The Complete Working Historic Estate" and is run by the National Trust and Staffordshire County Council.

Tamworth Castle

Tamworth Castle, a Norman fortress.

• Location: Tamworth
• What it is: An 11th-century Norman castle. It has a medieval Great Hall, Tudor rooms, and Victorian reception rooms.

Weston Park

Weston Park, a historic house and gardens.

• Location: Weston-under-Lizard
• What it is: A grand 17th-century house with beautiful gardens. The estate's landscape was designed by Capability Brown. It also has an art gallery.

Whitmore Hall

Whitmore Hall, a 17th-century house.

• Location: Whitmore
• What it is: A 17th-century house that is open to visitors on certain days.

Industrial and Technology Museums

These museums show how things were made and how machines worked in the past.

Apedale Heritage Centre

The Apedale Heritage Centre.

• Location: Chesterton
• What it is: Learn about coal mining history. You can see old tools, artifacts, and even take a mine tour. It also has a collection of old industrial trains.

Brindley's Mill and the James Brindley Museum

Brindley's Mill, an 18th-century water mill.

• Location: Leek
• What it is: An 18th-century mill powered by water that ground corn. It also has exhibits about James Brindley, a famous canal builder from the 1700s.

Cheddleton Flint Mill

Cheddleton Flint Mill, important for pottery.

• Location: Cheddleton
• What it is: A water mill built to grind flint, which was used to make pottery. You can see the miller's cottage, kilns, and other old buildings.

Claymills Pumping Station

The impressive beam engines at Claymills Pumping Station.

• Location: Burton upon Trent
• What it is: A restored Victorian pumping station. It has huge steam engines called beam engines that once helped manage sewage.

Dudson Museum

The Dudson Pottery building.

• Location: Stoke-on-Trent
• What it is: This museum tells the story of the Dudson company, which made ceramic tableware. You can see many examples of their pottery.

Etruria Industrial Museum

Etruria Industrial Museum with its working steam engine.

• Location: Etruria
• What it is: A 19th-century mill that ground bone and flint for the pottery industry. It has a working steam engine that you can see in action.

Gladstone Pottery Museum

Gladstone Pottery Museum, a preserved Victorian factory.

• Location: Longton (Stoke-on-Trent)
• What it is: A Victorian pottery factory where bone china tableware was made. It has original equipment, kilns, and even a collection of Victorian decorative toilets!

Moorcroft Heritage Visitor Centre

Moorcroft Pottery building.

• Location: Burslem (Stoke-on-Trent)
• What it is: You can take a guided tour of the factory and see a museum with beautiful Moorcroft pottery.

Spode Works Visitor Centre

• Location: Stoke-on-Trent
• What it is: This centre shows the history and examples of Spode pottery and porcelain. You can learn about the founder, Josiah Wedgwood, and how ceramics are made.

Wedgwood Museum

• Location: Barlaston
• What it is: Explores the history and beautiful creations of Wedgwood ceramics. It also tells the story of its founder, Josiah Wedgwood, and the pottery-making process.

Art Galleries and Collections

These places display amazing artworks, from paintings to sculptures and crafts.

AirSpace Gallery

• Location: Stoke-on-Trent
• What it is: A gallery that shows modern and contemporary art.

Keele University Art Gallery

• Location: Keele
• What it is: An art gallery located at Keele University.

Nicholson Museum & Art Gallery

The Nicholson Institute in Leek.

• Location: Leek
• What it is: An art gallery that displays various artworks.

Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery.

• Location: Hanley (Stoke-on-Trent)
• What it is: This large museum has fine art, decorative arts (including many Staffordshire ceramics), local history, and natural history exhibits.

Raven Mason Collection

• Location: Newcastle-under-Lyme
• What it is: This collection, run by Keele University, features Mason ironstone and porcelain items. It's located in Keele Hall.

Shire Hall Gallery

• Location: Stafford
• What it is: Shows visual art, crafts, and photography. You can also see a restored 19th-century court room.

Local History and Special Interest Museums

These museums focus on the history of a specific area or a particular topic.

Lichfield Museum

St Mary's Centre, home to Lichfield Museum.

• Location: Lichfield
• What it is: Explores the local history of Lichfield. It features the Staffordshire Millennium Embroideries, which show 1000 years of the city's history.

Museum of Cannock Chase

• Location: Hednesford
• What it is: Covers local history, coal mining, and has a miner's cottage from the turn of the century. It also features a 1940s room and a collection of toys.

Newcastle Museum & Art Gallery

Newcastle-under-Lyme Museum & Art Gallery.

• Location: Newcastle-under-Lyme
• What it is: Also known as the Borough Museum & Art Gallery. It has a Victorian street scene with old shops, a doctor's office, toys, and a 1930s-1940s period house.

Redfern’s Cottage: Museum of Uttoxeter Life

Redfern's Cottage, Museum of Uttoxeter Life.

• Location: Uttoxeter
• What it is: This museum tells the story of the local history of Uttoxeter.

Stafford Castle

The impressive Stafford Castle.

• Location: Stafford
• What it is: The remains of a 19th-century castle built to look like a medieval one. The visitor centre has exhibits about both the original and current castles, and displays about medieval life.

Staffordshire County Museum

• Location: Milford
• What it is: Located in the Servants' Quarters of Shugborough Hall, this museum focuses on county history.

Staffordshire Regiment Museum

The Staffordshire Regiment Museum.

• Location: Whittington
• What it is: Explores the history of the Staffordshire Regiment. It has uniforms, weapons, medals, and even a replica World War I trench and armoured vehicles.

Staffordshire Yeomanry Museum

• Location: Stafford (inside the Ancient High House)
• What it is: Located in the attic of the Ancient High House, this museum shows the history and items of the Staffordshire Yeomanry, a local military group.

Letocetum / Wall Roman Site

The Roman site at Letocetum.

• Location: Wall
• What it is: This site, run by English Heritage and owned by the National Trust, shows the remains of a Roman settlement. It includes Roman baths and a museum with artifacts found there.

Defunct Museums

These museums are no longer open.

• Ceramica, in Burslem, closed in 2011.
• Coors Visitor Centre, its collections are now part of the National Brewery Centre in Burton upon Trent.

Images for kids

• 

  Bratch Pumping Station, not currently open to the public.

• 

  Mill Meece Pumping Station, an early 20th-century site.

See also

• Category:Tourist attractions in Staffordshire