Museums in England(C-D) A highly idiosyncratic list of both public and
commercial places to visit, based on the exacting criteria of whatever
I think might be fun. There are, of course, thousands of museums big
and small throughout the UK. What's your favourite?
The largest privately held collection of vintage, antique, and historic motor cars in Britain, the Caister Hall Motor Museum boasts historic bicycles, pedal cars, and carriages in addition to superb early motor vehicles. Among the highlights of the collection at Caister Hall is the Lotus driven by famed driver Jim Clark, the very first production Fiesta (not quite as fast as the Lotus!), a Bugatti, a Bentley Speed 6, and a 1893 Panhard et Levassor, which can make a real claim to be the very first 'real' motor car.
Castle Lane,
Caister-on-Sea,
Norfolk,
England,
NR30 5SN
The folk museum is housed in a delightful half-timbered building that once served as an inn. The collections show in detail the everyday life of Cambridge people over the past 400 years.
2/3 Castle Street,
Cambridge,
Cambridgeshire,
England,
CB3 0AQ
A combination research facility and zoological collection, the museum is a part of the Department of Zoology at Cambridge University. Both fossil and currently living species are represented in the collection on display. In addition, the museum shows temporary exhibits, made to illustrate a particular scientific or zoological theme.
Downing Street,
Cambridge,
Cambridgeshire,
England,
CB2 3EJ
This museum contains excavated sections of the old Roman town of Canterbury, including sections of a Roman town house with a well-preserved moasaic. In addition, there are audio-visual aids and hands-on activities designed to give visitors a real feeling for how the Romans lived in Canterbury.
11a Butchery Lane,
Canterbury,
Kent,
England,
CT1 2JR
The Royal Museum and Art Galery with the Buffs Museum is housed in the former Beaney Institute building on High Street. This delightful Grade II listed Victorian building was founded by Dr James Beaney, a Canterbury physician who later emigrated to Australia where he became so rich he was known as 'Diamond Jimmy'.
18 High Street,
Canterbury,
Kent,
England,
CT1 2RU
An extremely popular family attraction tells the story of medieval life through the characters made famous by Geoffrey Chaucer. The Canterbury Tales is housed in the historic church of St Margarets, which would have been known to real medieval pilgrims.
St. Margarets Street,
Canterbury,
Kent,
England,
CT1 2TG
The Guildhall is one of Carlisle's medieval treasures, dating to 1405. There were eight separate guilds in Carlisle, and each guild had a separate meeting room. Each guild room has its own character and hosts displays relating to the history of the city and the guild. Within the museum are displays outlining the city's history, including stocks used for punishing criminals, the chest which kept the city's valuables safe in the Middle Ages, and two bells from the Elizabethan period that were awarded as prizes for horse racing.
Carlisle,
Cumbria,
England
This listed Georgian House is home to exhibits of contemporary paintings, sculpture, ceramics jewellery and glass. Walled scupture garden.
Castlegate Drive,
Cockermouth,
Cumbria,
England,
CA13 9HA
Splendid recreated Victorian mansion adjoining gallery housing collections of watercolours, prints and drawings, as well as lace, glass and ceramics. Pleasant garden setting near the embankment.
Castle Lane,
Bedford,
Bedfordshire,
England,
MK40 3RP
A museum of local interest, maintained by The Charlbury Society. On display are 19th century farm tools, historic photographs, an Oxfordshire wagon, a pennyfarthing bicycle and other artefacts depicting the heritage of the ancient glove-making market town of Charlbury.
Corner House,
Market Street Charlbury,
Oxfordshire,
England,
OX7 3PN
One of the few remaining gunpowder mills in the UK, Chart Mill was the home of English gunpowder manufacture for centuries, from its initial construction around 1560 until the 1930s. The current mill was built in the 18th century and provides a fascinating look into the painstaking production of explosives and gunpowder over time. Seasonal opening.
Fleur de Lis Heritage Centre,
Stonebridge Way Faversham,
Kent,
England,
ME13 8NS
A marvellous museum covering the rich past of Chichester and area, with displays ranging from prehistory, geology, archaeology, Roman, Saxon, and medieval Chichester. Special display on the prehistoric find known as Boxgrove Man.
29 Little London,
Chichester,
West Sussex,
England,
PO19 1PB
Visit a Victorian farmyard, a 1940's prefab, Medieval fields, and an Iron Age house. If, after all that, you need a break, just pop into the Edwardian public convenience
Newland Park,
Gorlands Lane Chalfont St Giles,
Buckinghamshire,
England,
HP8 4AB
An important collection of Old Master paintings and drawings, originating with the 1765 bequest of General John Guise, and since expanded to its current total of 300 paintings and some 2000 drawings.
Christ Church,
St Aldates Oxford,
Oxfordshire,
England,
OX1 1DP
One of the more popular visitor attractions in Hereford, the Cider Museum is attached to King Offa Distillery, which produces a range of ciders and cider-based fruit liquers. The museum tells the story of how cider is made, tracing the process from growing apples, milling, pressing, fermenting, and bottling.
21 Ryelands Street,
Hereford,
Herefordshire,
England,
HR4 0LW
A lovely museum detailing the history of the historic Suffolk village of Clare and its inhabitants, through displays on local education, leather goods, clothing, transport, and brewing. There is a small entry fee.
High Street,
Clare,
Suffolk,
England,
CO10 8PT
The clock collection focuses on the "Golden Age" of clock making in Dorset, from the late 17th to the 19th century. Most impressive is the display of "Longcase", or "Grandfather" clocks, arranged chronologically to show the development of styles. Also on display are mechanisms of public clocks, such as those often found on churches or other public buildings. There are also clocks from across England and as far away as France.
Owermoigne,
Dorset,
England,
DT2 8HZ
Cobbaton Military Museum is billed as 'A Hobby which got out of hand'. It certainly did! Preston Isaac had a passion for World War II, and his collection of military paraphernalia, including tanks, guns, helmets, artillery, bombs, and other weapons. But the 'Home Front' is equally well represented, with the collection including ration books, blackout lamps, civilian gas masks, as well as Home Guard and ARP uniforms.
Chittlehampton,
Umberleigh,
Devon,
England,
EX37 9RZ
A working time capsule of Oxfordshire rural life, Cogges Hall is housed in a Cotswold stone farm buildings surrounding a Victorian manor. Traditional breeds of animals include sheep, cows, chickens, and pigs. Thee are regular demonstrations of farm crafts such as butter-making and milking. Costumed farm workers and Victorian maids in the farmhouse go through their range of daily activities for visitors.
Church Lane,
Witney,
Oxfordshire,
England,
OX28 3LA
Attraction Type:
Museum Heritage Rating:? Location: off A40; access by footbridge from centre of Witney.
Over 4000 zoological specimens are contained in this fascinating museum. Specimens are drawn from all across the globe, and include an extensive marine collection. Much attention is made at the museum to dissected specimens, showing visitors at first hand the diverse biology of our planet and its diverse inhabitants.
AMS Building,
University of Reading Reading,
Berkshire,
England,
RG6 6AJ
An educational project of the Society of Dyers and Colourists, the museum is divided into two galleries. The World of Colour looks at the physical properties of colour, (and why a colour looks different to different people, and different again to animals). The Colour and Textiles Gallery traces the history and technology of textile dyeing and printing all the way back to ancient Egypt. Fascinating stuff.
Perkin House,
82 Grattan Road Bradford,
Yorkshire,
England,
BD1 2JB
The building that houses The Commandery is a delightful half-timbered Tudor house that was used by Charles II as his headquarters for the Battle of Worcester in 1651. The battle was the final conflict in the long English Civil War, and the defeat of Charles' forces essentially sealed Parliament's victory in the war. The Commandery reopened in 2007 following an extensive refurbishment, with vivid reconstructions of six selected periods of the city's history.
Sidbury,
Worcester,
Worcestershire,
England,
WR1 2HU
Compton Verney is an award-winning art gallery located in a beautiful Grade 1 listed mansion built by Robert Adam. The house is set in over 120 acres of landscaped grounds designed by Capability Brown. Within the gallery are 6 permanent exhibits and a changing array of temporary exhibitions.
Compton Verney,
Warwickshire,
England,
CV35 9HZ
Local museum traces the history of the town from prehistoric times right up through the second world war. The textile industry was particularly important in the economic history of Congleton, from early lace and leather work through to the silk and cotton mills.
Market Square,
Congleton,
Cheshire,
England,
CW12 1ET
A modern museum on the site once occupied by the Dominicam monstery of Blackfriars (so-named for the black habits traditionally worn by the Dominican monks). Blackfriars was the home of the Order of St John (the Hospitallers), the ancestor of the St John Ambulance organization.
Widemarsh Street,
Hereford,
Herefordshire,
England,
HR4 9HN
A jewel in the Cotswold crown, this award-winning museum tells the story of the old Roman town of Corinium, and its evolution into modern Cirencester. A wealth of Roman finds are displayed and there are plenty of hands-on exhibits to encourage visitors young and old to learn about the fascinating history of this region. See a Roman town-house interior, and mosaic floors reconstructed from original finds.
Park Street,
Cirencester,
Cotswolds,
Gloucestershire,
England,
GL7 2BX
A small museum with model boats from the Maritime Collection. Thee is an extensive archive of material from the island's yachting and shipbuilding heritage which is accessible by appointment..
Cowes Library,
Beckford Road Cowes,
Isle of Wight,
England,
PO31 7SG
A small museum with model boats from the Maritime Collection. Thee is an extensive archive of material from the island's yachting and shipbuilding heritage which is accessible by appointment..
Cowes Library,
Beckford Road Cowes,
Isle of Wight,
England,
PO31 7SG
Carefully accurate restoration of 18th century gardens of keen gardener William Cowper are an interesting part of the museum documenting the lives of Cowper and Rev. John Newton.
Orchard Side,
Market Place Olney,
Buckinghamshire,
England,
MK46 4AJ
A museum of local history for Cranbrook and area, housed in an historic 15th century timber-framed farmhouse. Collections include Cranbrook Town, Rural Industry, Agricultural Tools Kitchen and Scullery displays, Military history, historic costumes, amd much more. The museum is set in attractive gardens.
Carriers Road,
Cranbrook,
Kent,
England,
TN17 3JX
A museum of local history and artefacts covering the Crawley area from prehistoric times to the creation of the New Town. There are permanent displays and a programme of changing exhibits. Among the permanent exhibits are archaeological fnds, Iron Age pottery, Romano-British finds, and Victorian nostalgia.
Goffs Park House,
Crawley,
West Sussex,
England,
RH11 8PE
A small museum covering the story of Cuckfield village and its history. The museum features an ongoing programme of special events and exhibitions. Recent exhibitions include a display of historic objects found at local residences.
Queen's Hall,
High Street Cuckfield,
West Sussex,
England,
RH17 5EL
On the site of the city's first silk mill, the museum contains exhibits of the industries that have played an important role in Derby's development, incuding silk, mining, china, aeronautics, and the railroad.
Silk Mill Lane,
off Full Street Derby,
Derbyshire,
England,
DE1 3AF
There's lots to see here, from an award-winning Ceramics Gallery, to displays relating to the social, military, and natural history of the city and county, to historic clocks and local fine art exhibits. There are even two Egyptian mummies! The gallery houses the world's largest collection of the paintings of 18th Century Derby artist Joseph Wright.
The Strand,
Derby,
Derbyshire,
England,
DE1 1BS
Didcot houses the steam engine collection from the old Great Western Railway in the original engine shed. Check ahead for the dates of their Steamdays, when the old warhorses come out of the shed and take you for a ride.
Station Road,
Didcot,
Oxfordshire,
England,
OX11 7NJ
Grab a trowel and get your hands dirty taking part in the excavation of artifacts from two milleniums of York history, from Roman times through the Victorian era.
St Saviour's Church,
St Saviourgate York,
Yorkshire,
England,
YO1 8NN
A museum of social history, arts and crafts in the Ditchling area. Ditchling has a long history as a popular centre for arts, with many successful artists settling in the area. The museum has permanent exhibitions showcasing the work of many artists who lived and worked in Ditchling.
Church Lane,
Ditchling,
East Sussex,
England
Next to Donington Park racing circuit is this collection of motorcycles and 130 grand prix race cars, claimed to be the largest single-seater collection in the world.
Donington Park,
Castle Donington,
Derby,
Derbyshire,
England,
DE74 2RP
The County Museum traces the natural, archaeological, social, and geological history of the county.
High West Street,
Dorchester,
Dorset,
England,
DT1 1XA
The charming Dorset Teddy Bear Museum is a delight for children and adults who haven't forgotten what it is like to have fun! A century's worth of teddy history, from such old favorites as Rupert Bear and Winnie the Pooh to today's TV stars. If you just have to take a friend or two home with you, there is now a teddy bear shop in a separate location on Trinity Street.
Eastgate,
Dorchester,
Dorset,
England,
DT1 1JU
A museum tracing the story of Dover from prehistoric times to the present day. Exhibits cover Dover town and port, and include Roman history, Dover's role as a member of the Cinque Ports, Napoleonic and Victorian Dover, and the history of Dover during both World Wars.
Market Square,
Dover,
Kent,
England,
CT16 1PB
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