Wiltshire Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1873 |
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| Location | Long Street, Devizes, Wiltshire, England |
| Type | Archaeology Museum, History museum |
The Wiltshire Museum is a cool place to explore history, art, and nature in Devizes, Wiltshire, England. It used to be called the Wiltshire Heritage Museum or Devizes Museum. This museum first opened its doors in 1874.
It's run by a group called the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society. This group is a registered charity that started way back in 1853. They bought an old grammar school building to create the museum. Later, they added two Georgian houses next door. The museum is still in these historic buildings today!
The museum has amazing collections that tell the story of Wiltshire. You can see items from ancient times like the Palaeolithic period. There are also treasures from the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Roman times. You can even find things from Saxon and Mediaeval periods.
Many items come from the famous Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site. Some of the museum's collections are so important that they are officially recognized as key parts of England's history.
Contents
Discovering Ancient Treasures
One of the most special collections at the museum is from Bush Barrow. This is an early Bronze Age burial mound located near Stonehenge. In 1808, a person named William Cunnington dug up this mound. He found the richest and most important Bronze Age items ever discovered in the Stonehenge area.
The museum got these amazing finds in 1883. They were on display until 1922. Then, they were loaned to the British Museum for a long time. After some work to fix the largest piece, which was a bit debated, the treasures came back to Devizes in 1985.
Exploring Natural History
The museum also has a fascinating natural history collection. It includes parts of a plesiosaur called Bathyspondylus. This ancient sea reptile was found near Swindon in 1774. Scientists officially described Bathyspondylus swindoniensis in 1982. They used the museum's specimens to learn about it.
What's on Display
The Wiltshire Museum often has special exhibits for visitors.
Gold from the Time of Stonehenge
Since 2013, there has been a permanent exhibit called Gold from the Time of Stonehenge. This display features 30 pieces of real gold from the Early Bronze Age. These include the incredible finds from Bush Barrow. It's a great chance to see ancient gold up close!
Past Exhibitions
The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions. For example, from September 2021 to January 2022, they had a big show. It was called Eric Ravilious: Downland Man. This exhibition showed artworks by Eric Ravilious. Many pieces were borrowed from famous places like the Victoria and Albert Museum and the British Museum.
The Museum's Future
The Wiltshire Museum has exciting plans for the future.
A New Home for the Museum
Since 2018, there have been talks about moving the museum to a new location. The plan is to move into the old Assize Court building. This building is in the northwest part of Devizes town centre. It was built in 1835 and has a grand Greek-style entrance.
The court building was empty after it closed in the 1980s. But in 2018, a charity bought it. This charity is called the Devizes Assize Court Trust. They got help from the Wiltshire Historic Buildings Trust and a local supporter. The plans include creating new galleries and spaces for community events. They also want to repair and protect this Grade II* listed historic building.
Getting Ready for the Big Move
In June 2023, the Wiltshire Museum got some good news. They received £300,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This money will help the museum and the Assize Court Trust plan the big move. They will use it to develop their ideas before asking for a full grant in 2025. This means the museum could have an even bigger and better home soon!
See also
- The Salisbury Museum
- Wiltshire Record Society
