Mansfield Museum facts for kids
 |
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Established | 1904 |
|---|---|
| Location | Leeming Street, Mansfield NG18 1NG, Nottinghamshire, England |
The Mansfield Museum is a cool place in Nottinghamshire, England. It's run by the local council and is full of interesting things to see! The museum first opened its doors in 1904, though the building you see today was opened a bit later, in 1938. It's a great spot to learn about Mansfield's history and the people who lived there.
Contents
History
The museum started thanks to a generous person named William Edward Baily. He was a wealthy collector and loved nature. In 1903, he gave his amazing collection and a building to the town of Mansfield. This first building was sometimes called the "Tin Tabernacle" because of its look.
The very next year, in 1904, the museum opened to the public on Leeming Street. Other important local people also added to the museum's collections. These included the naturalist Joseph Whitaker and the artist Albert Sorby Buxton. The current museum building replaced the older one in 1938. Later, in the 1960s, a fourth display area was added.
Collections
Made in Mansfield
The museum has a special area called the "Made in Mansfield" arcade. This exhibition shows off eight well-known industries that helped build Mansfield's reputation. You can see old items, photos, videos, and listen to stories about these businesses.
Some of the main industries featured are Metal Box, Shoe Co, Mansfield Brewery, and Barrs Soft Drinks. You can also learn about hosiery (making socks and tights), precision engineering, mining, foundries (metal casting), and quarrying (stone extraction).
Albert Sorby Buxton's Art
The museum proudly displays many watercolour paintings by the artist Albert Sorby Buxton. His pictures show what Mansfield looked like a long time ago. They highlight buildings and views that have changed or disappeared over the years. It's like a window into the past!
Ceramics
There's a special gallery just for beautiful ceramic artworks. You can see pieces by William Billingsley and Rachel Manner's unique lustreware. Lustreware is pottery or porcelain with a shiny, metallic glaze.
Awards
The Mansfield Museum is known for being a fun place for families, especially with its focus on natural history. In 2011, the museum received an award from The Guardian Newspaper.
More recently, in 2019, the museum won another award. This was from Museum Development East Midlands for their 'Fitness, Food & Fun' project. They won for having the "best project on a shoestring," meaning they did a great job with a small budget!
The museum's former curator, Liz Weston, was also honored in 2013. She received an MBE award for her amazing work in heritage and for the community.
Images for kids
-
A World of Birds, Mansfield Museum
