Whittlesey Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whittlesey Museum |
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Whittlesey Museum
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| Location | Market Street, Whittlesey |
| Built | 1825 |
| Architect | Richard Reynolds Rowe |
| Architectural style(s) | Italianate style |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name: Town Hall | |
| Designated | 22 February 1985 |
| Reference no. | 1228223 |
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The Whittlesey Museum is a cool place in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, England, where you can learn about local history. It's located on the ground floor of the Whittlesey Town Hall. This building is very old and special, known as a Grade II listed building, which means it's protected because of its history and architecture.
Contents
Discover the Town Hall's History
Building the Original Town Hall
The building that houses the museum was first finished in 1825. It had a balanced look with three main sections facing Market Street. The ground floor was used by the local fire service, with a main door and four openings for horse-drawn fire engines. Upstairs, there was a large room called an assembly room with three big windows.
A New Look for the Town Hall
In 1857, the building got a big makeover! A designer named Richard Reynolds Rowe from Cambridge gave it a new style called Italianate. This style made the building look more fancy. The new design added special tiles above the main door and five round-topped windows upstairs.
Inside, the ground floor had the fire station and a small jail cell called a lock-up. The assembly room upstairs had a horseshoe-shaped table and was used as a courtroom for small legal cases.
The Town Hall's Role in Local Government
As Whittlesey grew, it became an "urban district" in 1894, and the Town Hall was its main office. Later, the local council moved to new offices. Today, the Fenland District Council manages the area, but the local parish council, Whittlesey Town Council, still uses the Town Hall for special events like choosing the town's mayor.
Explore the Whittlesey Museum
How the Museum Started
The Whittlesey Museum opened in 1976. It was set up as a charity to collect, take care of, and share the history of Whittlesey and nearby areas like Coates, Eastrea, Pondersbridge, and Turves. The goal is to help students, local people, and visitors learn and enjoy the area's past.
Museum Achievements and Partnerships
The museum earned a special award called Arts Council Accreditation in 2007, showing it meets high standards. It's also part of a group called the Greater Fens Partnership. It's one of the "Fenland Five" museums, working with places like Wisbech & Fenland Museum, March and District Museum, the Chatteris Museum, and Octavia Hill's Birthplace House.
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum has many interesting things! You can see old items found from local digs, old clothes, natural science displays, coins, and medals. It also shows the history of local jobs and industries, including the famous Whittlesey Straw Bear.
The museum's displays are set up in what used to be the Caretaker's Cottage and the area where the town's horse-drawn fire engine was kept. Outside in the museum's courtyard, you can learn about the local brick-making industry and the railway. There's also a forge (where metal is shaped) with a wheelwright's bench and old farm machines, showing other important jobs that supported the local area long ago.
