Passmore Edwards Museum facts for kids
 |
|
| Established | 18 October 1900 |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | 1994 |
| Location | Stratford, East London |
The Passmore Edwards Museum was a museum located in Stratford, a part of East London. For a while, it was also known as the Essex Local and Educational Museum of Natural History. This museum was a place where people could learn about local history, nature, and ancient objects.
Contents
What Was the Passmore Edwards Museum?
The Passmore Edwards Museum was an important museum in East London. It showed collections about the natural world, very old human history (prehistoric archaeology), and how different groups of people lived (anthropology) in the Essex area. It also had educational displays to help people learn.
How It Started
The museum began with the collections and library of the Essex Field Club. This club was a group interested in nature and history. They made an agreement with the local government of West Ham, called the Corporation of West Ham, in 1898.
Under this agreement:
- The local government agreed to use a main part of a building for the museum.
- They would provide heating, lighting, and care for the building.
- The Essex Field Club would be in charge of the scientific side of the collections.
- They would also choose the museum's curator (the person who looks after the collections).
- The club could keep its library in the building.
- The local government also agreed to give at least £100 each year to help pay for the curator.
In return, the Essex Field Club agreed to:
- Place their county collections, display cases, and cabinets in the museum.
- This excluded their Epping Forest collections, which stayed in the Forest Museum at Chingford.
- They promised to work hard to grow and improve the collections.
- They would also be in charge of choosing and scientifically managing the items.
- The club agreed to raise money for more museum equipment.
- They would appoint the curator and contribute £50 each year towards their pay.
Who Was John Passmore Edwards?
John Passmore Edwards was a very generous person who gave a lot of money to help start the museum. Because of his important help, the museum's name was later changed to honor him. He even laid the first stone for the museum building on October 6, 1898.
The Museum's Journey
The museum building was next to the West Ham Technical Institute. It officially opened its doors in 1900. Daisy Greville, Countess of Warwick, a well-known figure at the time, opened it. The main part of the museum had a special design with a dome at the top that let in light, and galleries around the edges.
The Passmore Edwards Museum served the community for many years. However, it closed down in 1994. After it closed, its valuable collections were moved. Most went to the London Borough of Newham Heritage Service, which looks after historical items for the local area. Other parts of the collection went to different museums. Today, the old museum building is used by the University of East London as its Student Union.
