Tudor House Museum, Weymouth facts for kids
The Tudor House Museum is a very old building from the early 1600s. It's in Weymouth, Dorset, a town in Dorset, England. This house is special because it's one of the best-preserved Tudor buildings in the UK. It's located near Brewers Quay and Weymouth Harbour. Since 1953, it has been recognized as an important historical building.
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Exploring Tudor House History
Building a Merchant's Home
The Tudor House is a large, three-story building. It was built around 1600, likely between 1603 and 1610. A wealthy merchant built it right next to the harbor. This was super handy for him! He could moor his boats right outside his home. This made it easy to load and unload his goods. The house is made from strong Portland stone. It has a roof made of stone tiles.
From Cove to Street
The house first stood by an area called 'The Cove'. This was a small inlet from the harbor. Ships could dock right next to the house. Today, the museum shows how a middle-class family lived in the early 1600s. The Cove eventually filled up with mud. In the late 1700s, it was turned into a street. This meant the house could no longer be used for trade.
Saving a Historic Building
After its trading days, the building became two smaller houses. By the 1930s, it was in bad shape. In 1936, it was almost torn down. This was because it was considered unsafe to live in. Luckily, Second World War events helped save it. After the war, the Weymouth Ancient Buildings Society bought it. However, it was empty during the war. It even got some damage from bombs.
Restoration and Legacy
In the 1950s, a local architect named Walmsley Lewis took over. He was a key person in the Weymouth Ancient Buildings Society. He worked hard to fix up the house. He turned it back into one single home. He then filled it with real Tudor and Stuart items. He traveled all over the UK and Europe to find these old pieces.
When Lewis passed away in 1977, he gave the house to the Weymouth Civic Society. They still own and run the museum today. Volunteers from the Civic Society give tours of the house. These tours teach visitors about Weymouth's history. They show what daily life was like in the 1600s. You can learn about furniture, clothes, cooking, and even how candles were made!
Celebrating Milestones
In May 2011, the Tudor House Museum celebrated a big birthday. It marked 50 years since it opened as an attraction. To celebrate, people living in Weymouth and Portland got free tours.
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