The Wilson (Cheltenham) facts for kids
The Wilson is a popular museum and art gallery located in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. It first opened its doors in 1899 and was originally known as the Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum. Today, you can visit for free and enjoy many special exhibitions throughout the year. In 2013, the building was made bigger and renamed The Wilson. This new name honors Edward Wilson, a famous explorer from Cheltenham who traveled to the South Pole. The museum and gallery are looked after by The Cheltenham Trust.
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What is The Wilson?
The Wilson is housed in a beautiful old building on Clarence Street. This building was designed by an architect named William Hill Knight. He also designed other important buildings in Cheltenham, like the Cheltenham Synagogue. The museum shares this building with the Cheltenham Public Library.
Expanding the Museum
In 2007, a special competition was held to find the best design for making the museum bigger. This was done to create more space for its amazing collection of Arts and Crafts items. A company called Berman Guedes Stretton won the competition. The new part of the building was finished in 2012.
How the Collections Grew
The museum's art collection started thanks to Baron de Ferrieres. He was a former Mayor of Cheltenham and a Member of Parliament. He gave 43 important paintings to the town, mostly from Belgium and the Netherlands. He also donated money to help build a gallery to show these artworks. The museum officially opened in 1907. Later, in 1989, a big new section was added to the building. This new part was opened by the Princess Royal herself!
Amazing Collections to Explore
The Wilson is famous for its incredible collection of items from the Arts and Crafts Movement. This includes furniture, textiles (like fabrics), pottery, carvings, silver, and jewelry. This collection is so special that it's recognized as being important around the world.
Cheltenham's History and More
You can also learn a lot about Cheltenham's past at the museum. There are paintings that are hundreds of years old, showing art from four different centuries. The museum also has beautiful collections from Asia, including pottery and traditional costumes. Plus, you can see ancient treasures found from the nearby Cotswolds area.
The Edward Wilson Gallery
One special part of the museum is the Edward Wilson gallery. This gallery tells the story of Edward Wilson, the brave explorer from Cheltenham. He was part of an expedition to the South Pole with Captain Scott and sadly passed away there in 1912. The gallery helps visitors understand his life and adventures.
