Museums, archives and heritage in Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire, a west midland county, situated upon the estuary of the Severn and bounded N. and NE. by Herefordshire, Worcestershire, and Warwickshire; E. by Oxfordshire; S. by Berks, Wilts, and Somerset; and W. by Monmouthshire, Herefordshire, and the estuary of the Severn; greatest length, SW. to NE., 54 miles; greatest breadth, NW. to SE., 33 miles; area, 783,699 acres; population 572,433. The face of the county shows varied aspects, of which the most distinctive are the Cotswold Hills, in the E.; the valley of the Severn, in the middle; and the Forest of Dean, in the W. Besides the Severn there are numerous important rivers, such as the Avon, Lower Avon, Wye, Thames, and Windrush. The canal system has been largely developed, and several important water-ways of that description pass through the county. Agriculture forms the leading occupation of the rural population; in the hills sheep-farming receives attention; while the rich valley of the Severn has long been famed for the superiority of its products. Its luxuriant pastures especially have originated and supported a great industry in the shape of dairy farms which produce the celebrated Glo’ster cheese. In the W. of the county are 2 great coal-fields — the Forest of Dean on the N., and the Bristol coal-field on the W. Other minerals are gypsum, barytes, quartz, limestone, and freestone. The manufactures are mostly woollen and cotton stuffs, but at Bristol there are also large hardware manufactures. Gloucestershire comprises 29 hundreds, 387 parishes and parts of 4 others, the greater part of the parliamentary and municipal borough of Bristol (4 members), the parliamentary and municipal boroughs of Cheltenham (1 member) and Gloucester (1 member), and the municipal borough of Tewkesbury. It is mostly in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol.

– John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887)

Artemis Archery research collection

Yew Corner

Oldland N/A

0117 9323276

www.artemisarchery.com

Extensive representative collection of traditional recreational bows, arrows and other artefacts. Associated badges, medals, prints and ephemera.

Chavenage House

Chavenage

Tetbury GL8 8XP

01666 502329

www.chavenage.com

16th century, grey Cotswold stone manor house with many Civil War associations including the tapestry-lined rooms stayed in by Cromwell and his second-in-command, General Ireton, in 1648. The house was added to at the turn of the last century and features the Edwardian Ballroom.

Chedworth Roman Villa – National Trust

Yanworth

Nr Cheltenham GL54 3LJ

01242 890256

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chedworth-roman-villa

The remains of one of the largest Roman villas in Britain provide a fascinating insight into the period. The site was discovered in 1864 by a local gamekeeper and subsequently excavated.

Cheltenham Synagogue

Synagogue Lane, St James’s Square

Cheltenham GL50 3PU

01242 578893

www.cheltenhamsynagogue.org.uk

Our Grade 2* listed Synagogue is over 150 years old and unique in Gloucestershire. It provides a focus for both Jewish education in the region and the appreciation of Regency architecture.

Cirencester Lock-up

Trinity Road

Cirencester GL7 1BR

01285 623000

www.cirencester.co.uk/attractions

A two-celled lock-up built in 1804 and moved to its present site in 1837. Display panels tell the story of lock-ups in general and the history of this building & the Cirencester workhouse.

Clearwell Caves – Ancient Iron Mines

Nr Coleford

Royal Forest of Dean GL16 8JR

01594 832535

www.clearwellcaves.com

The show caves are a part of an extensive natural cave system, mined for iron ore to make one of Britain’s most complex and oldest mine workings; dating back well over 4,500 years, when Neolithic miners dug for ochre pigments. Nine atmospheric ancient caverns are open to visitors, that have an exciting and intriguing past.

Corinium Museum

Park Street

Cirencester GL7 2BX

01285 655611

www.coriniummuseum.org

Discover the treasures of the Cotswolds at the Corinium Museum. Two years and five million pounds in the making, the Corinium Museum has been transformed into the must-see visitor attraction of the Cotswolds. Corinium was the second largest city in Roman Britain.

Cotswold Motoring Museum & Toy Collection

The Old Mill, Sherbourne Street, Bourton-on-the-Water

Cheltenham GL54 2BY

01451 821255

www.cotswold-motor-museum.com

The museum has seven galleries – overflowing with vintage and classic cars, caravans, precarious looking motorcycles, original enamel signs, a unique toy collection and an intriguing array of motoring curiosities. It provides a nostalgic journey through history, complete with sounds, smells and stories from the eras.

Court Barn Museum

Church Street

Chipping Campden GL55 6JE

01386 841951

www.courtbarn.org.uk

Court Barn Museum celebrates the talented designers and craftspeople who have worked in Chipping Campden and the north Cotswolds since the beginning of the 20th century. This is a story of the Arts and Crafts movement and its legacy, a story of how a small town in a beautiful setting became a gathering place for designers and craftspeople of national and international reputation.

Collections: There is a permanent exhibition of silver, jewellery, ceramics, sculpture, industrial design, bookbinding, printing, and stained glass. The entire working archive of Robert Welch is also there.

Dean Forest Railway Museum

Dean Forest Railway, Norchard Railway Centre, Forest Road

Lydney GL15 4ET

01594 845840

www.dfr.co.uk

Spend a moment of your visit to the Dean Forest Railway to look around with artefacts from the former Severn & Wye Joint Railway and associated Great Western & Midland Railways.

Dean Heritage Centre, Forest of Dean

Camp Mill, Soudley, Cinderford

Forest of Dean GL14 2UB

01594 822170

www.deanheritagecentre.com

Set across a stunning and fully interactive five acre site, the centre protects and preserves the unique history and heritage of the beautiful Forest of Dean.

Collections: Includes archaeology, natural history, geology, industrial history, coal and iron mining, agriculture, costume, social history, friendly societies, library and archives.

Dr Jenner’s House & Garden

The Chantry

Berkeley GL13 9BH

01453 810631

www.jennermuseum.com

It was from this house in 1796 that Edward Jenner pioneered a vaccination against smallpox and it changed the world. During his life he was also fascinated by geology, ballooning, poetry and natural history. Find out about Dr Jenner’s life, his hopes, the setbacks and how he changed the world.

Dyrham Park – National Trust

Dyrham Park, Dyrham

near Bath SN14 8ER

0117 9375201

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dyrham-park

Explore 270 acres (110 hectares) of ancient parkland, where a historic herd of fallow deer roams freely and magnificent trees and breathtaking views abound. Inside the impressive mansion, built by hard-working civil servant William Blathwayt, discover fascinating interiors little changed in 300 years, as well as a rich collection that includes superb Dutch art and ceramics of the period.

Forest of Dean Local History Society

45 Allaston Road

Lydney GL15 5SS

01594 842164

www.forestofdeanhistory.org.uk

To advance education for the benefit of the public by the study of local history, in particular the local history of the Forest of Dean and its surrounding area.

Frenchay Village Museum

Begbrook Park

Frenchay BS16 1SZ

0117 957 0942

www.frenchay.org/museum.html

A few miles northeast of Bristol, in South Gloucestershire, Frenchay Village Museum gives an insight into an unusual village that, from the 17th century, was a community largely made up of non-conformist Quakers and Unitarians.

Gloucester Cathedral

Gloucester GL1 2LR

01452 508211

www.gloucestercathedral.org.uk

The Cathedral today is much more than just an ancient monument – it is a living church open 365 days a year.

Gloucester City Council Culture, Learning & Leisure

Learning and Leisure, Heritage and Museums, Herbert Warehouse, The Docks

Gloucester GL1 2EQ

01452 396620

goo.gl/O3a7pZ

Heritage and Museums service responsible for museums, collections, archaeological planning advice, and monuments in Gloucester.

Gloucester City Museum & Art Gallery

Brunswick Road

Gloucester GL1 1HP

01452 396131

www.gloucestermuseums.co.uk

Treasures from all over Gloucestershire reveal the county’s early history – dinosaur bones and diorama; life of early man; the beautiful Bronze age Birdlip Mirror; life and death in Roman Gloucestershire; the amazing Gloucester Tables Set (early backgammon) and an intricate Mediaeval closing ring from a local church. Discover beautiful antique furniture, clocks and decorative arts and paintings by well known artists such as Turner and Gainsborough.

Gloucester Folk Museum

99-103 Westgate Street

Gloucester GL1 2PG

01452 396868

goo.gl/27CGPP

Museum displays on three floors of three half-timbered buildings of c.1500-1650 plus new extensions at the rear of the site – dairy, ironmonger’s shop, wheelwright and carpenter workshops.

Collections: Collections cover the social history, trades, crafts and industries from the City & County of Gloucester from the mid-16th.century to the present.

Gloucester Waterways Museum

Llanthony Warehouse, Gloucester Docks

Gloucester GL1 2EH

01452 318200

goo.gl/fblQHp

The award-winning Gloucester Waterways Museum (part of The Waterways Trust) is housed in a splendid Victorian warehouse at the historic Gloucester Docks. The collections include objects painted by boatmen, costumes worn by boating families, and waterways souvenirs, along with photographic and archive material.

Gloucestershire Archives

Clarence Row, Alvin Street

Gloucester GL1 3DW

01452 425295

www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/archives

Gloucestershire Archives aims to preserve historical records relating to Gloucestershire, and to make them available for research. Gloucestershire Archives holds over 8 million documents dating from the 12th century to the present day and reflecting all aspects of life in Gloucestershire.

Gloucestershire Family History Society

Clarence Row, Alvin Street

Gloucester GL1 3AH

01452 524344

www.gfhs.org.uk

The society provides free online research facilities and friendly volunteers to help you find your ancestors in Gloucestershire and beyond.

Hailes Abbey – National Trust

Near Winchcombe

Cheltenham GL54 5PB

01242 602398

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hailes-abbey

The Cistercian abbey of Hailes was founded in 1246 in Gloucestershire by the Earl of Cornwall in thanks for surviving a shipwreck. Though never housing large numbers of monks, it held a renowned relic, ‘the Holy Blood of Hailes’ – allegedly a phial of Christ’s own blood.

Hidcote – National Trust

Hidcote Bartrim

near Chipping Campden GL55 6LR

01386 438333

goo.gl/0GVCb5

Hidcote is an Arts and Crafts garden in the north Cotswolds, a stone’s throw from Stratford-upon-Avon. Created by the talented American horticulturist, Major Lawrence Johnston, its colourful and intricately designed outdoor ‘rooms’ are always full of surprises.

Holst Birthplace Museum

4 Clarence Road

Cheltenham GL52 2AY

01242 524846

www.holstmuseum.org.uk

The Holst Birthplace Museum aims to celebrate the life and works of Gustav Holst, composer of The Planets. The museum was opened by Holst’s daughter Imogen in 1975.

Collections: Holst’s piano, family items and extensive printed archive of photographs and ephemera.

John Moore Countryside Museum & Merchant’s House

41 Church Street

Tewkesbury GL20 5SN

01684 297174

www.johnmooremuseum.org

The John Moore Museum is nestled in a row of historic timber-framed buildings close to the Abbey in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. The museum was established in 1980 in memory of the writer and naturalist John Moore. Today it is also home to an extensive natural history collection featuring specimens of the mammals and birds native to our countryside, woodlands, wetlands and farmland. A few doors away is The Merchant’s House, a two storey building which has been beautifully restored and furnished to show the construction of a 15th century shop and dwelling. The museum has also recently taken over the management of the Old Baptist Chapel, originally a late Medieval Hall house which was later converted for use as a Nonconformist meeting house.

Living Memory Historical Association, The

The Living Memory Historical Association Exhibition and Study Centre

Cirencester GL7 1QW

0128 565 5650

www.livingmemory.btik.com

The LMHA is a registered charitable trust founded in 1989, dedicated to the study of local history within living memory. It holds a considerable archive of artefacts and ephemera, mainly of the Second World War period.

Museum in the Park, The

Stratford Park, Stratford Road

Stroud GL5 4AF

01453 763394

www.museuminthepark.org.uk

Family-friendly museum in beautiful parkland setting. Featuring colourful displays relating to the history, people and places of Stroud District and a varied programme of temporary exhibitions and events.

Nature in Art

Wallsworth Hall, A38, Tewkesbury Road

Twigworth, near Gloucester GL2 9PA

01452 731422

www.nature-in-art.org.uk

The museum and art gallery dedicated to art inspired by nature from around the world. The collection spans 1500 years, from 60 countries by 600 artists and craftspeople.

Newark Park – National Trust

Ozleworth

Wotton-under-Edge GL12 7PZ

01453 842644

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/newark-park

This unusual and atmospheric property was built c.1550 as a hunting lodge and added to in the 1790s. It stands high on the edge of a 40-ft cliff with outstanding views.

Snowshill Manor & Garden – National Trust

Snowshill Road

nr Broadway WR12 7JU

01386 852410

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/snowshill-manor

Snowshill is no ordinary manor, as Charles Paget Wade was no ordinary Edwardian gentleman. Mr Wade embodied his family motto ‘Let nothing perish’, spending his life and inherited wealth amassing a spectacular collection of everyday and extraordinary objects.

Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum

Custom House, The Docks

Gloucester GL1 2HE

01452 522 682

soldiersofglos.com

The Soldiers of Gloucestershire is a small military museum, which tells the story of the Gloucestershire Regiment and the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars over the last three hundred years. Located in Gloucester Docks, galleries are on two floors of the old Custom house, which is listed grade two.

South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group

www.sgmrg.co.uk

This area has a rich mining history. The date of the earliest mines is unknown, while the last coal mine closed as recently as 1963. South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group (SGMRG) was set up by local people to understand, record and where appropriate preserve the remains, of what was once an extensive industry, for the present community and future generations.

Stroudwater Textile Trust

www.stroud-textile.org.uk

The Stroudwater Textile Trust began its life in 1999 as successor to the Friends of Stroud Museum Textile Group as the result of the wish of a group of local people to recognise and interpret the importance of the woollen industry in the Stroud Valleys at all levels from the local to the international. An essential aspect of the Trust’s work is that it considers the present and future of working with wool in the area to be an important part of its purpose as well as that of the past.

Sudeley Castle

Winchcombe GL54 5JD

01242 602308

www.sudeleycastle.co.uk

Set against the backdrop of the beautiful Cotswold Hills, Sudeley Castle is steeped in history. With royal connections spanning a thousand years, it has played an important role in the turbulent and changing times of England’s past. The castle was once home to Queen Katherine Parr, the last and only surviving wife of Henry VIII.

Swinford Museum

Fox House, Filkins, Nr Lechdale

Gloucester GL7 3JQ

01367 860209

www.filkins.org.uk/swinford_museum.html

Domestic agricultural and building crafts from a Cotswold village.

Tetbury Police Museum

The Old Court House, 63 Long Street

Tetbury GL8 8AA

01666 504670

www.visittetbury.co.uk/police-museum

The original police office and cells contain a most interesting array of exhibits and memorabilia which is well worth a visit, including the world renowned Alex Nichols collection of Handcuffs and Restraints. The centre is primarily dedicated to the history of the Gloucestershire Constabulary.

Tewkesbury Abbey

Church Street

Tewkesbury GL20 5RZ

01684 850959

www.tewkesburyabbey.org.uk

Tewkesbury Abbey was founded in 1087, but the building of the present Abbey did not start until 1102. Two styles of architecture dominate the Abbey; the Norman piers and arches of the Nave and the Decorated-style 14th century chancel, imposed on the previous work.

Tewkesbury Museum

64 Barton Street

Tewkesbury GL20 5PX

01684 292901

www.tewkesburymuseum.org

Social history and archaeology collections illustrating the history of Tewkesbury and its people. A fun learning experience for children and adults alike.

Thornbury & District Museum

c/o The Town Hall, 35 High Street

Thornbury BS35 2AR

01454 857774

www.thornburymuseum.org.uk

The Trust’s collection includes objects, a document archive, photographs and digital images which all help tell the story of Thornbury and its surrounding parishes. Some of the collection is placed in store and can be accessed by arrangement for research, as well as being used to create exhibitons and displays.

Wellington Aviation Museum

British School House, Broadway Road

Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 0BG

01608 650323

www.wellingtonaviation.org

Some years ago Gerry Tyack opened his small museum dedicated to all those who served or who passed through RAF Moreton-in-Marsh, on one of the many training courses for RAF bomber command. Though the airfield is now a fire training station Gerry keeps the memory of the base alive in the museum with his vast range of artefacts from the war years and beyond.

Wilson, The – Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum

Clarence Street

Cheltenham GL50 3JT

01242 237431

www.cheltenham.artgallery.museum

Gallery spaces allow visitors to explore highlights from the museum’s collections – including a new gallery space dedicated to the internationally renowned Arts & Crafts collection, open archives showing tales of local heroes, including the great Edward Wilson (one of Scott’s key men on his 1912 expedition to Antarctica) and temporary exhibition spaces filled with varied programming including fun shows for families.

Winchcombe Folk & Police Museum

Old Town Hall, Winchcombe

Cheltenham GL54 5LJ

01242 609151

www.winchcombemuseum.org.uk

Our police collection is a small part of the Simms Collection which was founded in 1953. Winchcombe’s Police Collection opened in 1983 in the Old Court Room of the Town Hall. On display we have British and International police uniforms, caps, helmets, badges, truncheons, handcuffs and other equipment.

Wotton Heritage Centre

The Chipping

Wotton-under-Edge GL12 7AD

01453 521541

www.wottonheritage.com

Located in a converted fire station in the Chipping, Wotton-under-Edge, the museum provides visitors with an excellent introduction to this historic wool town and its surrounding area of outstanding natural beauty. Visit the Wotton Heritage Centre and discover intriguing artefacts from Wotton-under-Edge’s crafts and industry; changing exhibition displays; photographs, postcards, documents, maps and books of local interest; microfiches of parish registers; card indexes of family and local history and a variety of databases for family history research.

Yate & District Heritage Centre

Church Road

Yate BS37 5BG

01454 862200

www.yateheritage.co.uk

At present, the centre controls the two major local history collections in the area and these are both available to the public on open days and through appointment. There are over 3,000 objects in the centre.