Newarke Houses Museum facts for kids
The two historic buildings: Wyggeston's Chantry House (left) and Skeffington House (right)
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| Established | 1953 |
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| Location | Leicester |
| Type | Military Museum |
The Newarke Houses Museum is a cool place to visit in Leicester, England. It's a public museum that shows you what life was like in Leicester from the 1500s until today. You can also learn about the Royal Leicestershire Regiment here. The museum is located near the old Magazine Gateway and close to De Montfort University.
Contents
Museum History: Two Historic Houses
The museum is made up of two old buildings. One is called Wyggeston's Chantry House, built around 1511. The other is Skeffington House, built in the 1600s.
These houses were important during the English Civil War in 1645. They were used when Leicester was under attack.
In 1908, the houses were sold. Chantry House stayed a home, but Skeffington House became a school. Both buildings were bought and turned into a museum in 1953. This happened as part of the celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation.
One room inside the museum shows what a 17th-century house looked like. It helps you imagine life back then.
Amazing Museum Collections
The museum has many interesting things to see. You can learn about different parts of Leicester's past.
Daniel Lambert: Leicester's Famous Resident
One famous person from Leicester was Daniel Lambert. He lived in the 1700s and was known as Britain's largest man. He weighed over 317 kilograms (50 stone).
You can see some of his belongings at the museum. These include his clothes and even his special chair. He is still a well-known symbol of the city.
Life in Leicester: From Toys to Industry
The museum has a fun display of a 1950s Leicester street. It looks like Wharf Street, with model shops. There's also an exhibition of toys, from Tudor times to today.
You can also learn about Leicester's history of making clothes. Big companies like Corah's and Wolsey were important. The museum shows how these industries grew from the 1800s onwards.
War History: Remembering the Regiments
The museum has special exhibits about the First World War. These shows, called 'Leicester Remembers', ran from 2014 to 2018. They marked 100 years since the war began.
There is a display about the Royal Leicestershire Regiment. You can see drums used by their band. There's also a tiger, which was the regiment's mascot.
The museum has many items from both the First and Second World Wars. These show what life was like for soldiers and for people at home. You can see a model trench on the first floor. There's also a Morrison shelter and gas masks, showing how people stayed safe at home during the Second World War.
The museum also has a large collection of medals. You can use a computer to find records about people who served in the Leicester Regiment.
Peaceful Museum Gardens
The museum has beautiful gardens on different sides of the main building. They have neat box hedges. These hedges are shaped into maze-like patterns, like medieval gardens.
In Victorian times, many different kinds of exotic trees and plants were added. Some of these old plants are still there today.
The garden's end wall has special holes called gun loops. These were cut by Cromwell's troops, the Roundheads, in 1645. This happened during the English Civil War when Prince Rupert was attacking the town.
See also
