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 to learn about local history. It's located in Market Street, Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, England. You can find it on the ground floor of the Whittlesey Town Hall. This building is very old and special. It is known as a Grade II listed building, which means it's protected because of its historical importance.
Contents
A Look Back: The Museum's Story
The Town Hall Building
The building we now know as Whittlesey Town Hall was first finished in 1825. It had a balanced front with three main sections facing Market Street. The ground floor was once home to the local fire service. It had a main door and four large openings for horse-drawn fire engines. Upstairs, there was a big assembly room with three large windows.
In 1857, the building got a makeover. Richard Reynolds Rowe, an architect from Cambridge, designed the new look. He gave it an Italianate style, which means it looked like buildings from Italy. This work cost £257. The new design was much fancier. It had special faience tiles above the doorway. The first floor featured an archway with five round-headed windows.
Inside, the ground floor had the fire station and a small jail, called a lock-up. The assembly room upstairs was the main space. It had a horseshoe-shaped table. This room was used as a courtroom for "petty sessions." These were like small court hearings for minor local issues.
Whittlesey was first run by "improvement commissioners" starting in 1849. These were people who helped manage the town. Later, in 1894, an "urban district council" took over. The Town Hall became their main office. As the town grew, the council moved its offices to other streets. However, they still held their important meetings at the Town Hall. In 1974, local government changed again. Fenland District Council became responsible for the area. A new local council, Whittlesey Town Council, started in 1981. They sometimes use the Town Hall for special events, like choosing their mayor.
How the Museum Started
The museum itself began in 1976. It was set up as a charity. Its main goal is to collect, care for, and share the history of Whittlesey. This includes the surrounding areas like Coates, Eastrea, Pondersbridge, and Turves. The museum wants to help students, local people, and visitors learn and enjoy the area's past.
The museum received special recognition from the Arts Council in 2007. This means it meets high standards for museums. It also became part of the Greater Fens Partnership. It is one of the "Fenland Five" museums. The other museums are Wisbech & Fenland Museum, March and District Museum, Chatteris Museum, and Octavia Hill's Birthplace House.
What You Can See: The Collection
The Whittlesey Museum has many interesting things to see. Its collections include local archaeology, which means old objects found in the ground. It also has old documents and records. You can see costumes and textiles, along with items from nature. There are also coins and medals. The museum shares the social and industrial history of the area. This includes the famous Whittlesey Straw Bear.
The museum displays are set up in different parts of the building. Some are in what used to be the Caretaker's Cottage. Others are in the area where the town's horse-drawn fire engine was once kept. Outside, in the museum's courtyard, you can learn about the local brick industry and railways. There's also a forge, where metal was shaped, and a wheelwright's bench. These show other important jobs that supported the local economy long ago.
