Waterford Treasures facts for kids
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Reginald's Tower
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| Established | 1982 |
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| Location | The Mall, Waterford, Ireland |
| Type | history museum |
| Public transit access | The Mall bus stop (Bus Éireann routes 601, 603, 605) |
| Nearest parking | Bolton Street |
Waterford Treasures is a fantastic group of museums located in the city of Waterford, Ireland. It's a great place to learn about history!
This special group includes four main museums: the Medieval Museum, the Irish Silver Museum, the Irish Museum of Time, and the Irish Wake Museum. You can also explore two historic buildings: the Bishop's Palace and Reginald's Tower. Reginald's Tower is home to the Waterford Viking Museum. All these amazing places are found in an area called the Viking Triangle.
You can see incredible things there, like the Waterford Charter Roll from the 1300s! Waterford Treasures also offers fun activities like the 'King of the Vikings' virtual reality adventure and a cool walking tour. There's even a cafe if you get hungry!
Explore the Museums
Waterford Treasures has several exciting museums and historic buildings to visit. Each one tells a different part of Waterford's rich story.
Medieval Museum: Step Back in Time
The Medieval Museum lets you explore two ancient rooms. These are the Choristers’ Hall from the 1200s and the Mayor's Wine Vault from the 1400s.
This museum also has a very special item: the only piece of clothing left that was worn by King Henry VIII! It's a cap of maintenance. This cap, along with a special sword, was given to the Mayor of Waterford in 1536.
Irish Museum of Time: Clocks and Watches
The Irish Museum of Time is all about clocks and watches. It opened its doors on June 14, 2021. Here, you can see many different timepieces from history.
Irish Silver Museum: Shiny Treasures
The Irish Silver Museum opened shortly after, on June 24, 2021. This museum showcases beautiful Irish silver items.
Irish Wake Museum: Understanding Traditions
The Irish Wake Museum opened on June 15, 2023. This museum helps visitors understand the traditions around death and the wake in Ireland.
Bishop's Palace: A Grand Old Home
The Bishop's Palace is a beautiful building that is 250 years old. It was built in the Georgian style. Inside, you'll find amazing items from Waterford's past, from the 1600s right up to today.
The famous Anglo-German architect Richard Cassels first designed the palace. Construction started in 1741. Another architect, John Roberts, finished building it. This grand palace used to be the home of the Church of Ireland Bishop of Waterford.
The museum shares stories of Waterford life from 1700 to the 1970s. It has a unique Bonaparte 'mourning cross.' This was one of only 12 made after Napoleon Bonaparte died in 1821.
You can also see the oldest piece of Waterford Crystal still in existence. It's a Penrose decanter, and it dates back to 1789.
The top floor of the palace focuses on specific stories from Waterford's history. These include the pig markets of Ballybricken and Waterford's role in the Home Rule story. There are also exhibits about Waterford during the First World War and the War of Independence. You can also learn about childhood and home life in Waterford long ago.
Reginald's Tower: Ireland's Oldest Building
Reginald's Tower is an incredibly old building. It is said to have been built around 1003 A.D. It is the oldest building in Ireland that is still used by the public!
Inside, the Viking Museum displays many artifacts from the Viking era. These items help tell the story of Waterford's Viking past.
Fun Activities and Awards
Waterford Treasures offers more than just museums. You can also enjoy some exciting experiences.
King of the Vikings Virtual Reality
At the French Church, Waterford Treasures runs the 'King of the Vikings' Virtual Reality Adventure. This is a super cool way to experience Viking history!
Epic Walking Tour
They also offer the Epic Walking Tour. This is a guided walk that takes you around the historic Viking Triangle. It's a great way to see the city and learn its secrets.
Awards and Recognition
Waterford Treasures has received several awards for its amazing work. It was even nominated in an international category for the 2013 "Museums and Heritage Awards." This shows how important and well-loved these museums are!
