Swaledale Museum facts for kids
The Swaledale Museum is a special place in the village of Reeth, close to Richmond in North Yorkshire, England. It's a museum that tells the story of how people lived and worked in the countryside. It focuses on the beautiful areas of Swaledale and Arkengarthdale. These areas are part of the amazing Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Contents
A Look at the Museum's History
The museum building has a long and interesting past. It used to be a school room for the Methodist church. This school was built way back in 1836. Before that, there were two old cottages on the same spot.
From School to Museum
After a new Quaker school opened in Reeth in 1862, this building became a Sunday School. During the Second World War, soldiers stayed here. They were training at Catterick nearby. After the war, it was used as a place for people to relax and have fun.
In 1974, the Methodist Church sold the building. It then opened as a private museum called the Swaledale Folk Museum. In 2004, new owners took over. But the museum is still run by a dedicated team of volunteers. They work hard to keep it open and interesting for everyone.
What You Can See at the Museum
The Swaledale Museum has many cool things to explore. You can see old photographs that show what the Arn Gill lead mine looked like. There's even a special stone from the mine's entrance arch. This stone has designs carved into it. These exhibits help you imagine what life was like for miners long ago.
How Volunteers Help the Museum
There's a group called Friends of Swaledale Museum. These are volunteers who love the museum. They help with many things, like running the museum every day. They also help with special activities and groups that the museum organizes. Their help is very important for the museum to keep sharing its stories.
See also
- List of museums in North Yorkshire
- Swaledale Festival
