Melton Carnegie Museum facts for kids
The Melton Carnegie Museum is a fun place to visit in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, England. It's a museum that shares the exciting history of this market town. The museum is managed by Leicestershire County Council. It also gets support from Melton Borough Council and funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Contents
Discovering the Museum's Past
From Library to Museum
The building where the museum is now used to be a Carnegie Library. It was first built way back in 1905. In 1977, Leicestershire County Council updated the building. They then opened it as the Melton Carnegie Museum.
Expanding the Collections
In 1983, a group called the National Museum of Hunting Trust was created. Melton is famous around the world for fox hunting. So, the museum planned to include exhibits about hunting. A big renovation project costing about £500,000 helped make this happen. The museum reopened on May 3, 2002, with new hunting displays.
A Bigger and Better Museum
The museum got even bigger in 2010. A major building project doubled its size. This project added a new gallery space. It also created a study area and a community room.
What You Can See at the Museum
Melton's Famous Foods
The museum explores the social and economic history of Melton. You can learn about the town's world-famous foods. These include Stilton cheese and pork pies. These foods are a big part of Melton's identity.
Exploring Local Trades
The museum also has displays about old local jobs. You can see how saddle makers worked. There are exhibits on shoemaking and tinsmithing too. These trades were very important to the town's growth.
Life Through the Ages
You can travel back in time at the museum. Learn how people lived in the area long ago. There are displays about the Romans. You can also see how the Anglo Saxons and Normans lived. The museum shows life during the Tudors, Georgians, and Victorians.
A Famous Phrase
Have you ever heard the phrase "painting the town red"? This saying has strong connections to Melton Mowbray. The museum might even tell you why!
Museum Quality
The museum is officially recognized for its high standards. It is accredited by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA). This means it meets important quality rules for museums.
