Wandsworth Museum facts for kids
The Wandsworth Museum was a special place in London Borough of Wandsworth, southwest London, England. It was a local museum that showed the culture and social history of Wandsworth. The museum displayed items and art that highlighted the skills of local people, both old and new.
The Museum's Story: A Look at its History
The Wandsworth Museum faced some challenges over the years. In 2007, it had to close for a while. Many people were upset about this and wanted the museum to stay open. Even the UK Museums Association shared their concerns.
After three years, the museum reopened in September 2010. Local people who cared about the museum helped raise about £2 million to make this happen. This money helped bring the museum back to life.
However, the museum closed its doors again in 2016. The items from its collection were then looked after by the Wandsworth Council and the Battersea Arts Collection. The museum was officially a charity from 2008 until 2017.
Later, the Wandsworth Museum collection became part of the Battersea Arts Collection. This new project was called the BAC Moving Museum. In 2021, the Battersea Arts Centre returned the collection to Wandsworth Council. They explained that the pandemic had made it hard for them to raise money and care for the collection.
What Was Inside: Building and Exhibits
From 2010 to 2016, the Wandsworth Museum was located at 38 West Hill, Wandsworth. It was in an old Victorian building that used to be the West Hill Reference Library. The local government, called Wandsworth Borough Council, ran the museum.
The museum showed the history of Wandsworth and other parts of the borough through time. It had many interesting items on display. One special item was an old Iron Age shield found in the River Thames.
Before 2014, the museum also hosted the De Morgan Centre. This part of the museum featured beautiful ceramics by William De Morgan. It also showed paintings by Evelyn De Morgan.
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