Canterbury Heritage Museum facts for kids
Museum frontage
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| Established | 1987 |
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| Dissolved | 2018 |
| Location | Stour Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2NR |
| Type | Local history museum, Children's museum, Heritage museum |
| Public transit access | Rail: Canterbury West; Canterbury East Buses: National Express, Stagecoach |
The Canterbury Heritage Museum was a cool place in Canterbury, South East England. It used to be called the Museum of Canterbury. This museum told the amazing story of the city.
It was located in a really old building from the 12th century. This building was called the Poor Priests' Hospital. It was right next to the River Stour.
Inside, you could see the famous Canterbury Cross. There was also a special area just for Rupert the Bear! His creator, Mary Tourtel, lived in Canterbury. The museum often had fun events and special shows. Sadly, the museum closed in 2018. But don't worry, it has reopened as The Marlowe Kit. This new place is an escape room, an exhibition space, and a creative hub.
Contents
History of the Museum
How it Started
The museum was first created by a man named William Masters. He grew special plants in Canterbury. William was the first person to look after the museum's collections. He did this from 1823 to 1846.
The Old Building: Poor Priests' Hospital
The museum was in a very old building from the medieval times. It was called the Poor Priests' Hospital. It had two other buildings connected to it. These buildings were right by the River Stour.
From 1174 to 1207, the long building was a stone house. It belonged to a rich tanner and a coin maker. The coin maker's son, Alexander, turned it into a place for old and poor priests. It was named after the Virgin Mary.
The priests used the main room like a big hall. They ate and slept around a central fire. Later, in 1373, more rooms were added. These gave the master of the hospital a private space upstairs. At the other end of the hall, there were rooms for servants. These included a kitchen and storage areas.
Next to the master's room was the Chapel of St Mary. It was a large open space. Later, two more floors were added inside. In 1575, the buildings stopped being used by the church. They became a school, a poorhouse, a workhouse, and a clinic.
The museum moved to Stour Street in 1987. It was set up to celebrate local history. The old building was fixed up to show its original roof.
Why the Museum Closed
The museum closed in 2018. This happened because fewer people were visiting. In five years, the number of visitors dropped from 30,000 to less than 9,000.
Some local groups, like the Canterbury Archaeological Trust, tried to keep it open. On April 6, 2019, the building reopened. It now hosts a year-long exhibition called The Marlowe Kit.
What You Could See: Exhibits
Canterbury Heritage Museum Displays
The museum had many cool things to see. They showed history from before the Romans up to today. You could walk through time, starting with prehistoric times. There were displays about the Anglo-Saxons and the medieval period.
You could also explore a Marlowe mystery. There was a special area about the wartime Blitz. You could even see things from Bagpuss and Clangers TV shows! And of course, the Rupert Bear Museum.
The museum had fun, hands-on activities. You could use a microscope or explore a treasure chest. There was even a World War II plane-spotting game. One part of the museum had a Victorian collection. It showed what a house from the 1900s looked like.
A huge tapestry covered three walls. It told the life story of Thomas Becket. You could also see bones found nearby. Experts had even recreated faces from these bones for a TV show.
A very special item was the Canterbury Cross. This Saxon brooch was found in 1867. It was made around 850 AD. It looks like a special cross used to mark churches.
The museum also had old furniture, household items, and armor. Another cool item was the Canterbury Pendant. This Saxon silver sundial was worn like a necklace. It was made by St Dunstan around 909−988 AD. It could tell the time, especially at noon, for prayers. It was found in the Cathedral in 1948.
The famous Invicta locomotive was also kept here. Between 2009 and 2012, the museum showed many items from The Beaney museum. This was while The Beaney was being fixed up. One famous painting was Sir Basil Dixwell by Van Dyck. Canterbury bought it for £1 million in 2004!
Rupert Bear Museum
The Rupert Bear Museum opened in 2003. It got a lot of money from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Mary Tourtel, who created Rupert Bear, grew up in Canterbury. She also went to art school there. One of the items on display was a very first edition Rupert annual from 1921.
The Rupert Bear Museum had fun activities for kids. These activities were about playing, having fun, and learning. It also had a special display for Bagpuss and Clangers. You could see items from the original TV shows. This included Emily's shop window from the start of Bagpuss. This is because the creators, Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate, filmed the shows near Canterbury.
Events and Visiting Information
The museum often had fun, interactive events for families. In June 2008, they celebrated 100 years since Ian Fleming was born. He created James Bond. In November 2008, there was a Rupert Bear Day. The new Rupert artist, Stuart Trotter, signed books.
In July 2009, the museum celebrated the anniversary of Neil Armstrong's first moonwalk in 1969. It was an interactive event. People could talk to astronomers. An astrodome showed a 3D tour of the night sky and Solar System. In 2009, the museum also celebrated 40 years of the Clangers TV show. There were two interactive events. People could even meet Peter Firmin, one of the show's creators. Oliver Postgate, the other creator, lived nearby. He gave his creations to the museum before he passed away in 2008.
The museum was open during certain seasons, from March to September. It was also open during school holidays. It had access for people with disabilities. There was an entrance fee to get in.
