England
Somerset

Museums in Somerset

American Museum in Britain - Jane Austen Centre

American Museum in Britain    Built in 1820, Claverton Manor has housed the American Museum for over 50 years. 18 period rooms document the development of American decorative arts from the 1680s to the 1860s. Among the items on display are examples of folk and Native American art, and an extensive collection of quilts. Over 200 quilts are on display, with pieces of traditional Shaker furniture, Native American art, and old maps of the New World. Claverton Manor, Bath, Somerset, England, BA2 7BD Attraction Type: Museum Heritage Highlight: Historic Claverton Manor is the setting for the only museum of Americana outside the US. Heritage Rating:   ? Location: 2 miles south east of Bath city centre Website: American Museum in Britain Email: info@americanmuseum.org Phone: 01225 460 503 Fax: 01225 469 160 Location map OS ST784640 Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Bath Postal Museum    The museum traces the history of the postal service, including a recreation of a 19th century post office. The museum not only traces the history of the post within Britain, but looks at postal systems in ancient societies. There are displays on post boxes through the years, and a look at the life and times of key figures involved in the establishment of the British postal system, including Ralph Allen, Thomas Moore Musgrave, and John Palmer. There is a special collection about the earliest British system of post marks and stamps, with late 17th century letters bearing a 'Bishop mark', a stamp named for Henry Bishop, Postmaster-General under Charles II. 27 Northgate Street, Bath, Somerset, England, BA1 1AJ Attraction Type: Museum Heritage Rating:   ? Location: On the corney of Green Street and Northgate Street Website: Bath Postal Museum Email: info@bathpostalmuseum.org Phone: 01225 460 333 Location map OS ST751 650 Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Beckford's Tower    Beckford's Tower is a striking neo-classical monument designed for William Beckford, a writer, collector, and patron of the arts. In 1825 Beckford called in architect Henry Goodridge to design a 120 foot high tower to house his collection of rare books and art, and to act as a writing retreat. Lansdown Road, Bath, Somerset, England, BA1 9BH Attraction Type: Museum Heritage Rating:   ? Website: Beckford's Tower Email: admin@bptrust.org.uk Phone: 01225 460 705 Fax: 01225 481 850 Location map OS ST738 676 Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Blake Museum    A local history and archaeology museum in a historic house believed to be the birthplace of Admiral Robert Blake. Blake Street, Bridgwater, Somerset, England, TA6 3NB Attraction Type: Museum Heritage Rating:   ? Website: Blake Museum Phone: 01278 456 127 Location map OS ST300103 Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Building of Bath Collection    An innovative hands-on exploration of the development of the Georgian city of Bath. The museum, which is housed in the historic Countess of Huntingdon's Chapel, interprets the architectural heritage of Bath, tracing the personalities and work of the architects and craftsmen responsible for transforming the mediecval core of the city into the elegant Georgian city we can see today. See how classical designs of the Greeks and Romans influenced the style of Georgian Bath, and get an idea of how a house was constructed from bottom to top. The Countess of Huntingdon's Chapel, The Vineyards, The Paragon Bath, Somerset, England, BA1 5NA Attraction Type: Museum Heritage Rating:   ? Location: In the city centre Website: Building of Bath Collection Email: admin@bptrust.org.uk Phone: 01225 333 895 Fax: 01225 445 473 Bath Preservation Trust Location map OS ST7506 654 Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Fashion Museum, Bath   A fascinating museum of costume through the ages, from the 16th century though the present day. If it has anything to do with the history of fashion, you will find it here! The Fashion Museum was founded by Doris Langley Moore, who donated her personal collection to the City of Bath in 1963. Originally known as the Museum of Costume, the Fashion Museum became the Fashion Museum in 2007, and is now three times its original size. Bennett Street, Bath, Somerset, England, BA1 2QH Attraction Type: Museum Heritage Rating:   ? Location: Near the town centre Website: Fashion Museum, Bath Email: fashion_bookings@bathnes.gov.uk Phone: 01225 477 173 Fax: 01225 477 743 Location map OS ST749 653 Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Glastonbury Tribunal    The well-preserved Tribunal townhouse, thought to have been a 15th century merchant's house as well as the courthouse for the Abbey, houses the TIC and the Glastonbury Lake Village Museum, where you will find artifacts from the fascinating archaeological site. 9 High Street, Glastonbury, Somerset, England, BA6 9DP Attraction Type: Museum Heritage Rating:   ? Location: At the bottom of Glastonbury High Street, in the centre of town, just around the corner from the entrance to Glastonbury Abbey Website: Glastonbury Tribunal Email: glastonbury.tic@ukonline.co.uk Phone: 01458 832 954 Fax: 01458 832 949 Location map OS ST43NE86 Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Haynes Motor Museum    The largest collection of historic cars in Britain, featuring over 340 international vehicles as old as 1886. Eleven large halls of cars, with vehicles as diverse as a 1900 Clement, 1931 Duesenberg, and classic British motorcycles. The Red Room showcases 50 red sports cars, including Ferrari, Lamborghini, and AC Cobra models. Sparkford, nr Yeovil, Somerset, England, BA22 7LH Attraction Type: Museum Heritage Rating:   ? Location: just off the A303 at Sparkford Website: Haynes Motor Museum Email: info@haynesmotormuseum.co.uk Phone: 01963 440 804 Fax: 01963 441 004 Location map OS ST614302 Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Holburne Museum of Art   It's impossible not to notice that Bath is a marvelous city for museums. This one is a treasure house of items from the collection of Sir William Holburne, including silver, Old Masters, Italian bronzes, porcelain, majolica, miniatures, and much more. Great Pulteney Street, Bath, Somerset, England, BA2 4DB Attraction Type: Museum Heritage Rating:   ? Website: Holburne Museum of Art Email: holburne@bath.ac.uk Phone: 01225 466 669 Fax: 01225 333 121 Location map OS ST756652 Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts

Jane Austen Centre   The Jane Austen centre is located on Gay Street, Queen's Square, only a short distance from the house where Austen lived briefly in 1805. The novelist was resident in Bath between 1801 and 1806, and the city features prominently in several of her works. The museum is set in a period terraced house, with exhibits of Regency costume, maps, books, and films that bring to life Jane Austen's role in the history of Bath. 40 Gay Street, Queen Square Bath, Somerset, England, BA1 2NT Attraction Type: Museum Heritage Rating:   ? Location: On Gay Street, 5 minutes walk from the Roman Baths, well signposted. Website: Jane Austen Centre Email: contactus@janeausten.co.uk Phone: (0)1225 443000 Location map OS ST748651 Nearest attractions and accommodation     Nearest: hotels - cottages - Bed and Breakfasts