It’s been a tough couple of years for museums so here’s my shout out for these wonderful institutions and the volunteers who are their lifeblood. It’s impossible to pick a Cotswolds ‘Top 10’ so I’ve done the next best thing and picked ten I think you might enjoy. There’s honourable mentions too.
Corinium Museum, Cirencester
I just had to start with this one. It’s in the so-called ‘capital of the Cotswolds’ for starters and will also go a long way towards answering that oft-posed query: ‘What did the Romans ever do for us?’ Don’t be fooled though as there’s a continuum in here extending from the Stone Age to modern times: It just so happens that the bulk of the story concerns Roman Ciren (or Corinium). The Roman part should not be underestimated either. The Cotswolds was very much ‘villa society’ back then and the museum boasts the highest concentration of mosaics in the provinces. There were over 90 in the town and its environs. Weekends after 2pm are recommended for ‘peaceful and reflective visits’ when there’s fewer Romans about. www.coriniummuseum.org
Almonry Museum, Evesham
Ok I’m being a little parochial here as I grew up in Evesham so I’m biased in this little museum’s favour. Setting is everything though and here we’re in a 14th century building that’s a notable survivor from the town’s Benedictine abbey along with the Bell Tower. As with Corinium we’re talking prehistory to modernity with an understandable focus on the town’s headline-making battle fought on 4th August 1265. Telling the story of the town’s development, its lost abbey and of the Vale’s horticultural clout, the museum certainly doesn’t lack variety. Although the museum is café-less, it is handily in the town centre. It also opened as a heritage centre in 1957, the year I was born, which feels kind of apt as I’m also a bit of history. www.almonryevesham.org
Charlbury Museum
I mentioned volunteers, well, Charlbury Museum is run entirely by its volunteers and has five packed rooms that serve to tell the story of this small market town. This museum tells us that small can be beautiful and meaningful as it pictures the past, catalogues change and gets us looking at what’s around us in a different way. The town may be small, the museum may be small, but the story is anything but: From the Stone Age and a market charter of 1256, granted during the reign of the Henry III who was opposed at that Evesham battle, to a royal forest (Wychwood) where a later Henry, the Eighth, hunted, and the emergence of a local industry, the manufacture of gloves. If we understand the past, we understand the present. www.charlburymuseum.org.uk
Cotswold Motoring Museum & Toy Collection, Bourton-on-the-Water
Now, I’m being good here. I’m not really into cars but I’m featuring a motoring museum so that tells you how good this one must be. Of course, the petrol vehicle is a fairly recent phenomenon so as museums go this one is very much our recent past. Contrary to what you may have thought you’d gleaned from ‘The Flintstones’ they really didn’t have cars back in the Stone Age. This is a 20th century story of rare vehicles and attendant classic memorabilia which takes you back to a time when you could experience the open road; not so easy nowadays. Opened in 1978, the museum also has its toy collection, not any old toys you understand, but transport ones; from pedal cars to petrol cars. www.cotswoldmotoringmuseum.co.uk
Tetbury Police Museum
Evenin’ all. Setting again, for Tetbury’s Police Museum is located in the original Victorian police station, magistrate’s court and gaol. One of 16 such establishments built in Gloucestershire between 1858 and 1909, the one in Tetbury brings to life the fascinating story of this town and its surrounding area but told through the stories of those responsible for trying to maintain law and order in this hotbed of crime. The museum has a reconstructed magistrate’s court in session with mannequins dispensing justice or about to be sent down, plus the largest collection of handcuffs anywhere in the UK. I told you there was a lot of crime about. You can even have a go at solving some crimes yourself: It’s like Cluedo and a Murder Mystery rolled into one. www.tetburypolicemuseum.org.uk
Museum in the Park, Stroud
And again, it’s setting, a Grade II Listed 17th century wool merchant’s house with a stunning walled garden and all set within the spectacular grounds of Stratford Park. There’s over 4,000 items displayed, everything from old dinosaur bones to one of the world’s very first lawnmowers; no, not a vegetarian ‘dino’ put out to graze. The museum is proud that it has ‘something to offer visitors of all ages’, with ‘interactives and toys’ for the youngsters and the opportunity to ‘pause for thought in the galleries’ for those of a more mature disposition. The museum’s vision is laudable: To encourage ‘everyone who lives, works or visits the Stroud District to be proud of its past, present and future’. www.museuminthepark.org.uk
Wellington Aviation Museum, Moreton-in-Marsh
I oft flew through Moreton-in-Marsh as I headed towards Evesham and always clocked the Wellington Aviation Museum which registered as a must visit for someone who loves his history and has read oodles about and written about WW2. Here, within part of an old Victorian school building is ‘a treasure trove of RAF memorabilia and aviation art’ and a valuable insight into how the war affected one relatively small community with an RAF base established on the eastern edge of town to train aircrew to fly the famous Vickers-Armstrong Wellington bomber, which first flew in 1936, and one of the designers of which was Barnes Wallis of bouncing bomb fame. The museum is an easy five minute stroll from the High Street and its many cafés. www.wellingtonaviation.org
National Waterways Museum, Gloucester
A warehouse occupying a prime spot in Gloucester’s splendid Victorian docks is home to the city’s National Waterways Museum. Although I’m a great lover of the railways, here is an opportunity to celebrate the trunk routes that preceded the iron road, our canals and rivers, and to learn about both our waterways and Gloucester’s docks. As with some of our other featured museums it’s possible to be ‘hands on’, clambering aboard historic vessels before viewing archive footage and browsing the galleries replete with canal heritage. Amongst the events and activities arranged by the museum is a brilliant programme of scheduled cruises, including all aboard for cream teas, canal lunches and sunset suppers, plus live music cruises. www.gloucesterwaterwaysmuseum.org.uk
Tewkesbury Museum
I know I’ve said this before but setting matters and here we have an unspoiled 17th century building that definitely fits the bill as a home for a museum. Offering a sweep of Tewkesbury history from the Romans to WW2 austerity, the museum also focuses on the famous Wars of the Roses battle fought on 4th May 1471 which ensured that the Yorkist Edward IV kept his posterior firmly plonked on the English throne. There’s also the story of the early Antarctic explorer, Raymond Priestley, a native of Tewkesbury. I’m told the museum is ‘child friendly’ and that there’s loads to keep them occupied and out of mischief. The museum is right in the centre of town so handy for Tewkesbury’s many other delights. www.tewkesburymuseum.org
Holst Victorian House, Cheltenham
This is Cheltenham’s only Victorian home open to everyone and was the birthplace of composer Gustav Holst, a fourth generation professional musician, in 1874. An authentic Victorian feel including nursery and bedroom is augmented with a working kitchen and scullery, whilst the music room contains the piano on which Holst composed his famous ‘The Planets’ suite, which provides a genuine ‘wow’ moment. Founded by his daughter 100 years after Holst’s birth, there’s the room in which he was born as well as plenty of period fixtures and fittings. Exhibitions and events are held throughout the year including the popular ‘Bake Back in Time’ when the working coal-fired range is ignited. The house is close to numerous cafés and restaurants. www.holstvictorianhouse.org.uk
OTHER COTSWOLD MUSEUMS (selected)
Tolsey Museum, Burford (www.burfordtolsey.org)
The Wilson, Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum (www.cheltenhammuseum.org.uk)
Chipping Norton Museum of Local History (www.chippingnortonmuseum.co.uk)
Winchcombe Museum (www.winchcombemuseum.org.uk)
Cogges Manor Farm, Witney (www.cogges.org.uk)
Combe Mill, Oxfordshire (www.combemill.co.uk)
Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstock (www.sofo.org.uk)
Broadway Museum & Art Gallery (www.broadwaymuseum.org.uk)
Gordon Russell Design Museum, Broadway (www.gordonrusselldesignmusum.org)
Churchill & Sarsden Heritage Centre (www.churchillheritage.org.uk)
Oxford Bus Museum (www.oxfordbusmuseum.org)
Court Barn Museum (www.courtbarn.org.uk)
Witney Museum (www.witneymuseum.org.uk)
Jet Age Museum (www.jetagemuseum.org)
Dr Jenner’s House, Berkeley (www.jennermuseum.com)
Showborough House Sculpture Garden (www.showborough.com)
Athelstan Museum, Malmesbury (www.athelstanmuseum.org.uk)
The Bugatti Trust (www.bugatti-trust.co.uk)
