The Mansfield Museum is a local authority museum in Nottinghamshire run by Mansfield District Council. Originally called the "Tin Tabernacle", the Museum was given to the town of Mansfield by the wealthy collector and natural historian, William Edward Baily in 1903. On his death he donated his collection and the building to house it. The following year the Museum was opened to the public on its current site on Leeming Street. Other prominent local people also added to the collection, including naturalist Joseph Whitaker and artist Albert Sorby Buxton.
The current building replaced the deteriorating "Tin Tabernacle" in 1938 and a fourth gallery was added in the 1960s. The arcade gallery was opened by the Sarah, Duchess of York in 1989.[citation needed]
Collections
editThe museum, with a focus on natural history,[1] is known for being family friendly.[2][3]
Made in Mansfield
edit
The Museum arcade holds an exhibition on eight of the more well-known industries that built Mansfield's reputation for manufacturing. The gallery features artefacts, photos, film and audio relating to the major, past and present employers of the town: Metal Box, Shoe Co, Mansfield Brewery, Barrs Soft Drinks, hosiery, precision engineering, mining, foundries and quarrying.
Albert Sorby Buxton
editThe museum holds the watercolour pictures of Mansfield painted by artist Albert Sorby Buxton. The pictures highlight buildings in Mansfield that no longer exist and views that have long since disappeared.[4]
Ceramics
editA gallery is dedicated to the ceramic works of William Billingsley and Rachel Manner's lustreware.[5]
References
edit- ^ Beck, Laycie (25 June 2023). "Museum awarded £76,700 towards natural history collection". Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ Pinchess, Lynette (28 July 2023). "2 free Notts attractions for children named the best in the UK". NottinghamshireLive. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ "Mansfield museum the most family friendly in the UK | Kids in Museums campaign | The Guardian". Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ Jarvis, Chris. "Buxton Watercolours". Mansfield Museum. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ NA, NA (25 December 2015). The Macmillan Guide to the United Kingdom 1978-79. Springer. p. 557. ISBN 978-1-349-81511-1.