Museum of Gloucester facts for kids
The Museum of Gloucester is the main museum in the city of Gloucester, England. It's located on Brunswick Road. The museum got a big makeover thanks to a grant from the National Heritage Lottery Fund. It reopened on Gloucester Day, September 3, 2011. In March 2016, the museum changed its name. It used to be called the Gloucester City Museum & Art Gallery.
There's also a smaller museum called Gloucester Life on Westgate Street. This museum focuses on the everyday lives and social history of people from Gloucestershire.
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How the Museum Started
The Museum of Gloucester first opened its doors on March 12, 1860. It began as a private project, using three rooms at a place called The Black Swan. The poet Sydney Dobell kindly let them use these rooms for free. Later, in 1896, the Corporation of the City of Gloucester took over running the museum.
The Museum Building
The building where the museum is located is quite old and special. It was built in the Victorian era, around 1893. The design was inspired by the famous architect T.G. Jackson. This building is so important that English Heritage has given it a Grade II listing.
It was originally known as the Price Memorial Hall. Margaret Price had it built to remember her husband, William Edwin Price. F.S. Waller was the architect who designed it. In 1902, the Corporation of the City of Gloucester took over the building. They turned it into the City Museum & Art Gallery.
At first, the museum only used the ground floor. But in 1958, a second floor was added. A famous archaeologist named Sir Mortimer Wheeler officially opened this new section.
What You Can See: Museum Collections
The Museum of Gloucester has many cool and interesting things for you to explore!
Ancient Discoveries
- Dinosaur skeletons: Imagine seeing the bones of giant creatures that lived long, long ago!
- Archaeology: This section shows items found from digging up old sites. You can see the Rufus Sita Tombstone and the amazing Iron Age Birdlip Mirror. This mirror was found way back in 1879.
- Roman and Medieval Artefacts: Discover objects from the time of the Romans and the Middle Ages. This includes the Gloucester tabula set, which is a very rare board game from the 11th or 12th century.
Nature and Art
- Natural history objects: Learn about the plants and animals that have lived in the area.
- Fine and decorative art: See beautiful artworks and decorated items. This includes special pottery called Delftware, Staffordshire figurines, and unique Arts and Crafts Bowls made by Alfred and Louise Powell.
- Queen Anne furniture: Look at furniture from the time of Queen Anne, showing how people lived centuries ago.
Local History Treasures
- Local history items: Explore objects that tell the story of Gloucester itself. This includes things related to the Gloucester Railway Carriage & Wagon Company. You can also see a bust of George Whitfield, a famous local preacher.
Art Collection Highlights
The museum's art collection has about 300 paintings. These include works by famous artists like J. M. W. Turner and Thomas Gainsborough. There's even a painting of Oliver Cromwell, but without his famous warts!
In 1977, the museum added a landscape painting to its collection. It's called Newnham-on-Severn from Dean Hill and was painted by William Turner of Oxford. The museum got help from The Art Fund to acquire this piece.
Museum Activities and Research
The museum isn't just about showing old things; it also helps discover new ones! In 1976, the museum's Excavation Unit did some important digging at St. Oswald's Priory. They found exciting new clues about the Saxon minster (a type of monastery). This minster was founded in the 890s by Æthelred, who was a leader of Mercia, and his wife Æthelflæd.
Images for kids
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A piece of an Anglo-Saxon Cross from St. Oswald's Priory in the museum.
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Newnham-on-Severn from Dean Hill by William Turner, added to the museum in 1977.
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John and Joan Cooke by an unknown artist. Joan Cooke started The Crypt School.
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An 1834 painting of a Gloucestershire Old Spot pig. It's said to be the biggest pig ever bred in Britain!
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A tiny painting of Jemmy Wood, known as the Gloucester Miser.
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See also
