TEWKESBURY MUSEUM CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
As a precaution against the spread of COVID 19 virus amongst our volunteers and visitors, the museum is now closed to visitors until the emergency is over.
We regret having to do this, but safety must take priority.
All museum talks are also cancelled.
We will reopen as soon as we can, and look forward to welcoming our many visitors from the town and from the world.
If you need to contact us, please email info@tewkesburymuseum.org , or message us via Facebook, #Tewkesburymuseum
You are welcome to spend time in the wonderful unspoiled seventeenth century building that is Tewkesbury Museum. Discover Tewkesbury’s rich and diverse history through a collection which ranges from Roman remains through to wartime austerity. Learn about notable Tewkesbury people like Antarctic explorer Raymond Priestley. Study the magnificent diorama of the Battle of Tewkesbury and the unique fairground model.
The building itself is a time capsule. Restored by Abbey restorer Thomas Collins in the nineteenth century and donated to the town as a Museum by an ‘anonymous gentleman’ in the twentieth, it is unique, full of original features, eclectic and eccentric.
The Museum is very child-friendly, with activities to keep them absorbed for hours. Because of its age the building is not disabled-friendly, though the staff are and will do everything they can to help.
As a small independent museum we offer local knowledge, local research and a fascinating glimpse into times gone by.
We’re often open outside our core hours; it’s worth a look to see if we are open.
We also do our best to open for individuals or groups outside these hours, by special arrangement.
Allow at least an hour for a visit
Facebook Posts
A little light woodwork at the museum. More news on this and other happenings shortly.
Dendrochronology
The Museum has had an appraisal visit from Dr Andy Moir from the Gloucestershire Buildings Research Group, as part of the Heritage Lottery- funded Gloucestershire Dendro Project. This visit was to assess the building and determine if there is any value in carrying out a dendrochronology study to date timber framing which appears to be original. The appraisal report will follow in due course, but it was declared to be the most challenging building in the project so far. No surprise there!
Though tree-ring dating might be a problem because so many large timbers are plastered or behind panelling, there is apparently plenty of other evidence for dating and understanding the evolution of the building. Outcomes for the museum will be display materials about the findings and some educational resources as well as a better understanding of the history of our unique building.
Details of the project can be seen at www.timber-framed.com/. They are looking for more timber-framed buildings in the town to be studied, so if you know a willing owner they’d like to hear from them.
Framework Knitting. An old Tewkesbury trade. Here's an interesting video describing the life of generations of one family of knitters in Nottinghamshire, including illustrations of how the machines operated and the organisation of the trade. With Luddites and Lord Byron too!
Stocking knitters cottages can still be seen in Stephens Alley and St Mary's Lane, whilst NE Terrace was at one time a frame knitting factory.
The trade in Tewkesbury declined in the face of competition from Nottingham and other places.
Thanks to Mark Poxon for sending the link.
youtu.be/Xwy65rhxW40
The Story of a Framework Knitter
youtu.be
On Saturday 23rd May at 3pm as part of the Nottstopping Festival, I’ll be premiering ‘The Story of a Framework Knitter’. The tale shares the lives of my FWK ...Tewkesbury Museum has decided to cancel museum talks until further notice, as a precaution against the spread of Coronavirus. This will immediately affect two planned talks:
17th March Mr Salt's Fairground
31st March Hidden Voices.
We hope to rearrange these, but cannot say when at the moment.
Our apologies to speakers and potential audience members.
The museum remains open as usual.