Weston Park Museum facts for kids
View of Weston Park Museum
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| Established | 1875 |
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| Location | Western Bank, Weston Park Museum, Mushroom Lane, Sheffield S10 2TP, England |
Weston Park Museum is a fantastic place to explore in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. It is located about one mile west of Sheffield city centre, right inside Weston Park. This museum is the largest in Sheffield. It is housed in a very old and important building, known as a Grade II* listed building. The museum is managed by Museums Sheffield. Before 2006, it was known as the Sheffield City Museum and Mappin Art Gallery.
Contents
History of the Museum
Early Beginnings
The museum first opened its doors in 1875. It was originally located in a building called Weston House. The land around Weston House later became the beautiful Weston Park. In 1887, a new part was added to the museum. This extension was built in a neoclassical style, which means it looked like ancient Greek or Roman buildings.
The Mappin Art Gallery
The Mappin Art Gallery was built to hold a special collection of artworks. These artworks were given to the city by a businessman named John Newton Mappin from Rotherham. Later, in the 1930s, Weston Hall was taken down. A new building was then constructed next to the Mappin Art Gallery. This new part was finished in 1937, with some money donated by local businessman J. G. Graves.
World War II and Reopening
For many years, the museum was officially called the Sheffield City Museum and Mappin Art Gallery. It displayed collections about Sheffield's history, nature, art, and how people lived. The Mappin Art Gallery showed Mappin's art and also hosted special art exhibitions.
However, in December 1940, during World War II, the Mappin Art Gallery was badly hit by bombs in the Sheffield Blitz. A large part of the building was destroyed, and the rest was damaged. Even though the Mappin Art Gallery was partly ruined, the museum stayed open to the public during the 1950s and 1960s. The damaged art gallery was made safe but remained partly demolished.
The Mappin Art Gallery finally reopened in 1965. From then until 2003, it hosted many important art shows, like the British Art Show. It even celebrated its 100th birthday in 1987.
Modern Renovations
Both buildings closed in March 2003 for a big renovation project. This huge project cost £17.3 million. Money for the renovation came from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Sheffield City Council, and a European Union fund called Objective 1 for South Yorkshire.
The museum reopened in October 2006 as Weston Park Museum. This change meant the Mappin Art Gallery was no longer a separate place. The museum closed again in summer 2016 for another update. This was also to celebrate ten years since the big renovation.
What You Can See at the Museum
Weston Park Museum has many interesting things to explore. It has seven main galleries, each with a different theme.
Archaeology and Ancient History
The museum's archaeology exhibits show items from a long time ago. You can see a copy of Bronze Age rock art from Gardom's Edge. There are also many items collected by Thomas Bateman. One very special item is the Benty Grange helmet. This helmet looks a lot like the helmets described in the old English poem Beowulf.
Exploring the Galleries
The museum has several exciting galleries:
- The Royle Gallery: This gallery features temporary exhibitions. These shows celebrate stories from Sheffield, amazing creative people, and how the city connects to the rest of the world.
- Sheffield Life and Times: Here, you can learn all about how people in Sheffield have lived throughout history.
- Beneath Your Feet: This section explores what's under the ground in Sheffield, including its geology and natural history.
- Ancient Egypt: Step back in time to learn about the fascinating world of ancient Egypt.
- What On Earth!: This gallery is all about the natural world and its amazing creatures.
- Sheffield Stories: Discover more unique tales and events from Sheffield's past.
- Picturing Sheffield: See how Sheffield has changed over time through pictures and art.
The Weather Station
Weston Park Museum is also home to one of the oldest weather stations in the country. This station has been collecting information about Sheffield's weather since 1882! It helps scientists understand how the climate has changed over many years.
Awards and Visitors
Weston Park Museum is a very popular place. Around 250,000 people visit the museum every year. In 2007, it was nominated for the important Gulbenkian Prize. In 2008, the museum won The Guardian's Family Friendly Museums award, showing it's a great place for families to visit.
