Salomons Museum facts for kids
The Salomons Museum is a cool place to visit near Tunbridge Wells in Kent, England. It's a museum inside a beautiful old country house. This house used to belong to Sir David Salomons, who was the very first Jewish Lord Mayor of London. It also belonged to his nephew, Sir David Lionel Salomons, who was a brilliant scientist and engineer. The house was first called Broomhill, but now it's known simply as Salomons.
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Exploring Salomons Museum
The Salomons Museum is a fascinating place where you can learn about history, science, and how people fought for fairness. It shows us how important it is for everyone to have a voice.
The Amazing Architecture of the House
The main house was built a long time ago, in the 1830s, by an architect named Decimus Burton. It has some really interesting parts! You'll see a super tall water tower, old stables, and even a special theatre where Sir David Lionel used to give science lectures. He also had his own laboratories right there in the house. Over the years, more parts were added to the house, making it even bigger. This historic building is officially recognized as a Grade II listed building, which means it's very important and protected.
Discovering the Museum's Collections
The museum holds many cool items that tell stories about the past. One of the most important items is a special bench. This bench is famous because it's where David Salomons stood up to speak in 1851. When he spoke, he became the very first Jewish person to ever speak in the British Parliament!
David Salomons and the Fight for Fairness
Before David Salomons, it was hard for people who weren't Christian to be part of Parliament. For example, Baron Lionel de Rothschild was elected to Parliament in 1847. But he couldn't take his seat because he refused to say a specific phrase in the oath that mentioned being a Christian.
David Salomons was elected to Parliament in 1851. Just like Rothschild, he took the oath but left out the Christian phrase. He then sat down on the bench that is now in the museum. Even though he was asked to leave, he came back a few days later and sat down again. A big discussion happened in Parliament. David Salomons stood up and explained that many people had voted for him, and he was there to represent them. He even voted three times before he was finally asked to leave. He was fined money for voting, but his actions helped change the law.
In 1858, the law was changed! This meant that people who weren't Christian could now take their seats in Parliament. Lionel de Rothschild became the first Jewish Member of Parliament. David Salomons was elected again in 1859 and continued to serve in Parliament until he passed away in 1873. Their bravery helped make Parliament fairer for everyone.
Sir David Lionel's Fascinating Inventions
The museum also has collections from Sir David Lionel Salomons, who was a true inventor and scientist. You can see his collection of items related to hot air ballooning, which was a very new and exciting thing back then. He also collected early automobiles, showing his interest in new technology.
One of the most amazing items is a special musical instrument called a Welte Philharmonic-Organ. This was a very advanced instrument for its time. Sir David Lionel also wrote many books and papers about electricity and other scientific topics.
A Glimpse into Jewish Heritage
The museum also has a collection of Judaica. These are items related to Jewish culture and history. This collection includes special tablets of the Ten Commandments. These tablets came from the Salomons family's own private Roof-top synagogue that was located in Brighton.
