Penrith and Eden Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1985 |
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| Location | Penrith, Cumbria |
| Collections | Local history, fine art |
| Owner | Westmorland and Furness Council |
The Penrith and Eden Museum is a cool place to visit in Penrith, Cumbria, England. It's a museum that collects, keeps, and shows off amazing things about the history and culture of Penrith and the wider Eden area. The museum is run by the Westmorland and Furness Council. It's located in an old school building called Robinson's School, which first opened way back in 1670!
Contents
Discovering History
The museum has many interesting things on display. You can see a fossil dinosaur footprint found in the Eden Valley sandstone. There are also ancient objects from the Stone Age and the Roman times. This includes a treasure of over 600 bronze Roman coins found near Shap, dating back to about 320-340 AD. You can also see Roman jewelry found right here in the area.
The museum also shows off the medieval seal of Penrith. There are old tools that were used to measure things at the market. One special item is a gold ring found near Penrith. It has the words Kepe Faith Till Death (meaning 'Keep Faith Until Death') engraved on it. You can also find items belonging to local heroes. These include Trooper William Pearson, the famous wrestler William Jameson, and even Percy Toplis, who was known as the 'Monocled Mutineer'. Don't miss the elephant's tooth found at the bottom of the moat at Penrith Castle!
New Finds and Treasures
Recently, the museum has added exciting new finds from the Eden area. These were discovered by people using metal detectors. They are now on display! Some of these treasures include a Charles I medallion from Kirkby Stephen. There's also a medieval coin hoard from Crosby Ravensworth. Another cool item is a gold and amethyst gemstone ring from Waitby. In January 2019, the museum received a tobacco jar dated 1897. It seems to have been made at the nearby Wetheriggs Pottery.
In February 2020, more items found by metal detectorists joined the museum's collection. These were acquired through the Portable Antiquities Scheme. They include a medieval silver finger ring from Kirkby Thore, dating from around 1150-1250 AD. Another is a medieval gold stirrup-shaped finger ring from the 13th century AD, found at Waitby near Kirkby Stephen. There's also a medieval silver 'teardrop' brooch made between 1200 and 1400 AD.
Art and Local Artists
The museum also has a wonderful collection of fine art. This includes paintings from Dutch and Flemish artists. They show landscapes and everyday life scenes. There are also British artworks, including pieces by the 19th-century Penrith artist Jacob Thompson. One of his famous paintings is The Druids Cutting Down the Mistletoe.
The museum also displays modern art by artists from the Eden area. These artists include Phil Morsman, Alan Stones, Lorna Graves, David Boyd, and William S. Cowper. In December 2019, a painting called ‘A Corner of Old Time Penrith’ was added. It was painted by William Jackson in 1909. The painting shows shops at the corner of King Street and Market Square in Penrith. You can see a butcher’s, a fishmonger’s, and a watchmaker’s shop.
Museum Recognition
The Penrith and Eden Museum is an officially recognized museum. It is accredited (No. 153) under a scheme run by the Arts Council. It is also part of the Cumbria Museums Consortium. This means it meets high standards for how it cares for its collections and serves the public.
On Television
In July 2018, the Penrith and Eden Museum was featured on the BBC TV show, the Antiques Road Trip. The show focused on William Jameson (1837-1888). He was Penrith’s famous Cumberland & Westmorland wrestling champion. The museum has a large collection of items related to William Jameson. These include his championship belts and trophies.
