Melton Carnegie Museum facts for kids
The Melton Carnegie Museum is a super interesting museum located in Melton Mowbray, England. This museum helps you discover the rich history of this famous market town. It is managed by Leicestershire County Council and gets support from Melton Borough Council. The museum also receives funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Discover the Melton Carnegie Museum
The Melton Carnegie Museum is a great place to explore the past. It tells the story of Melton Mowbray, from ancient times to today. You can learn about the people who lived here and the famous things the town is known for.
A Look at the Museum's History
The building itself has a long history. It was first built in 1905 as a library. This library was called the Carnegie Library. In 1977, the building was updated and opened as the Melton Carnegie Museum. Leicestershire County Council helped make this happen.
Later, in 1983, a group called the National Museum of Hunting Trust was created. Melton Mowbray is very famous for fox hunting. So, the museum decided to include displays about hunting. A big renovation costing about £500,000 helped add these new exhibits. The museum celebrated its re-opening on May 3, 2002.
The museum grew even more in 2010. After a major building project, it doubled in size! This project added a new gallery, a study area, and a community space. It made the museum even better for visitors.
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum shows you the social and economic history of Melton. This means you can learn about how people lived and worked. You'll find out about the town's world-famous foods. These include delicious Stilton cheese and tasty pork pies. The museum also has displays about the history of fox hunting in the area.
Melton's Stilton cheese and pork pies are known all over the world. The museum has special exhibits about these famous industries. You can also learn about other important trades. These include making saddles, shoemaking, and tinsmithing. These jobs had a big impact on the town's growth.
The museum also takes you back in time. You can see how people lived during different periods. This includes the times of the Romans, Anglo Saxons, Normans, Tudors, Georgians, and Victorians. It's like a journey through history!
You might have heard the phrase "painting the town red". This saying has strong local connections to Melton Mowbray. The museum helps explain its interesting origin.
The Melton Carnegie Museum is officially recognized by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA). This means it meets high standards for museums.