Sherborne Museum facts for kids
Sherborne Museum is a special local museum located right in the middle of Sherborne. This is a small market town in north-west Dorset, England. Sherborne has a long history, starting as a Saxon town. Over time, it became known for making things like cloth, gloves, and silk. The town is surrounded by beautiful countryside with hills made of Jurassic limestone.
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Discovering Sherborne's Past: The Museum's Story
The Sherborne Museum first opened its doors in 1968. It grew out of a local history group that wanted to save and share the town's heritage for future generations. The museum is housed in a very old building that used to be the gatehouse and almonry (a place where charity was given) for the monastery connected to Sherborne Abbey. This building is now officially protected as a Grade II listed building because of its historical importance. In 2007, the museum expanded by renting a large room upstairs to store more of its collection.
What Can You See? Exploring the Exhibits
The museum aims to show visitors what life was like in Sherborne and the surrounding areas, from ancient times to today. It covers the town's social life, history, and industries, as well as its natural environment.
Amazing Finds: Fossils and Ancient Art
One of the cool things you can see are fossils from a type of rock called the Inferior Oolite. These fossils tell us about the creatures that lived here millions of years ago. There's also a very special medieval wall painting, which is quite rare to find.
Interactive History: The Sherborne Missal
You can also explore an electronic touch-screen version of the 15th-century Sherborne Missal. A missal is a book used in church services. This digital version lets you flip through its pages and learn about this important historical document.
Everyday Life: Dolls' Houses and Local Plants
Another highlight is a beautiful Edwardian era dolls' house, which shows how people lived in the early 1900s. The museum also has a huge collection of 200 watercolours of local flora (plants). These were painted by a pioneering artist named Diana Ruth Wilson (1886-1969), who was very good at drawing plants.
Sherborne Through Pictures: A Vast Collection
The museum has one of the largest private collections of images of any town in the country. This includes many old photographs, postcards, and other artworks. These pictures help us see how Sherborne has changed over many years.
