News of archaeological finds at Must Farm near Peterborough continues to break thanks to the work of Cambridge Archaeological Unit, which has published its first books about Britain’s biggest hoard of Bronze Age artefacts – the dig revealed 10 wooden homes, destroyed by fire c.850BC. [@CambridgeUnit]
Britain’s only museum dedicated to the hat-making industry, the Hat Works Museum in Stockport, has reopened this week after a four-year redevelopment project. Working Victorian machinery can be seen, along with more than 1000 new objects. [@hatworksmuseum]
Blackpool’s first museum has now opened – Showtown celebrates the town’s rich history as a seaside resort, with six galleries exploring its social history and more than a century of popular entertainment. [Visit Blackpool]
The National Archives’ ‘Spirit of Invention’ exhibition, showcasing the history of technological innovation, is now on tour at Newcastle-upon-Tyne’s Discovery Museum until 23 June – the first time a TNA exhibition has toured in this way.
Haverfordwest Town Museum is opening a pop-up museum in the town centre while the castle premises is closed for redevelopment. The temporary site, in the Riverside Shopping Centre, opens on 25 March and is likely to run until 2027, featuring regular and changing displays. [Pembrokeshire Herald]
Wiltshire Council has given planning permission for two new buildings – a learning facility near the visitor centre and a ‘Neolithic classroom’ – at Stonehenge (approximately 2.5 miles from the stones themselves).
The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions’ survey of 2023 visitor figures puts the British Museum in top place, with more than 5.8m visits, up 42% on 2022. Windsor Great Park was in 3rd place, with Windsor Castle at 20th. National Museum Wales saw a 24% increase, National Museum of Scotland 11%.
The Lord Mayor Leeds, Al Garthwaite, has unveiled a series of information boards forming a heritage trail in Cross Flatts Park, Beeston. The trail showcases local history, including the story of local hotelier and benefactor Thomas Watson. [South Leeds Life]
The Museum of London reports that its team is now halfway through moving its collection of more than 10,000 objects to its new premises in Smithfield. The new London Museum is due to open in 2026. [@MuseumofLondon]
Archaeologists and local historians in Stirlingshire will shortly be excavating a rare decorated Pictish stone, found in Old Kilmadock Cemetery, Doune. It is believed to date from the 6th to 8th centuries and appears to bear Ogham script. [Stirling.gov.uk]