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NLMS currently consists of two venues, North Lincolnshire Museum (NLM) in Scunthorpe and Normanby Hall Country Park (NHCP). Between 1996 and 2004 NLMS also included Baysgarth House Museum (BHM) in Barton Upon Humber.

The institution which is today know as NLM was founded in 1909 by a group of local enthusiasts concerned about the destruction of archaeological and geological material and the disappearance of natural habitats due to ironstone mining in North Lincolnshire. The group were led by two men from Sheffield, Mr. A. C. Dalton, the Museum’s first honorary curator, and Mr. H. E. Dudley, his successor. The efforts of Dalton and Dudley attracted the support of a number of local worthies who formed the Naturalist and Antiquarian Society in Scunthorpe. The group convinced the Library Committee to allocate a room in the Carnegie Free Library on Station Road, for museum use. On 31 August 1909 the single room of exhibits, which had in the main been donated by the founders themselves, opened to the public. A small collection of antiquities were also displayed in Ashby Free Library, until their transfer to the Museum in Scunthorpe. The first years were a struggle and it soon became clear that without funding the Museum would close. In 1911 Scunthorpe Urban District Council adopted the relevant section of the Museums and Gymnasium Act, allowing the Museum to become a Council run venue.

In 1913, Dalton resigned and was replaced by Harold Dudley, who held the post until his retirement in 1956. Dudley was a respected archaeologist and geologist, as well as a gifted musician. Assisted by Mr. Thomas Sheppard of Hull Museum, Dudley worked with local enthusiasts to found and develop the nationally important collections drawn from the North Lincolnshire area, particularly the archaeology and geology collections. By 1937 the Museum had outgrown the single room in the Carnegie Free Library, and was moved to a disused maternity home on Cottage Beck Road, Scunthorpe. As well as more display and storage room, Dudley now had the space to found a museum education service.

By the early 1950s Scunthorpe Museum had again outgrown its home. As well as extensive collections of local Prehistoric and Roman objects, the collection now included the Canon Cross geological collection, the beginnings of the Fowler Collection of engravings and artefacts, and the Bronze Age Appleby Log Boat. In 1953 the Museum moved into its current home, the old Frodingham Vicarage, built from Frodingham Ironstone during the Victorian period.

In 1959 Michael Kirkby was appointed curator, and his interest in the fine and decorative arts saw a focus on developing the art collections for the first time. The Museum was renamed Scunthorpe Museum and Art Gallery, and the Vicarage was extended to create temporary exhibition space for use by local artists and societies. Further extensions created more permanent display spaces, as well as offices and learning rooms. In 1963 an ironstone cottage was removed from Church Street, Scunthorpe ahead of demolition and rebuilt within the Museum. The programme of museum development was rewarded in 1982 when Scunthorpe Museum and Art Gallery won the Small Museum of the Year Award.

The current permanent galleries at NLM tell the story of North Lincolnshire from its geological origins to the early post-War period. The Natural Science Gallery features key fossils from the Frodingham Ironstone, including rare ammonites, starfish, ichthyosaur and plesiosaur specimens. The Local History displays include the reconstructed Ironstone Cottage, with the ground floor set out as a typical working class living space. The parlour of the original Frodingham Vicarage is laid out as a Victorian parlour, and features an original display case containing specimens from the Canon Cross Collection and a chimneypiece from Bottesford Manor with the crest of the Peacock family. The Local History Gallery features key objects relating to local folklore traditions such as the Haxey Hood and Plough Jags, and material from the Ethel H. Rudkin Collection. The People’s War Gallery includes important local material relating to personal histories of the Second World War. In the Steel Gallery can be seen objects relating to the development of the Iron and Steel industry and the growth of Scunthorpe, including a tobacco box made from the first iron made at the first iron works in North Lincolnshire. The Archaeology Gallery tells the story of North Lincolnshire from the Palaeolithic to the early Post-Medieval period and features objects from a number of important excavations as well as key stray finds, including the earliest human worked flints from North Lincolnshire and the Romanesque Barnetby Font.

An important development in the creation of NLMS took place in 1964 when the Sheffield family moved out of Normanby Hall, a Regency country hall situated in a small village north of Scunthorpe. The Hall and its park were leased for ninety-nine years to Scunthorpe Borough Council for use as a museum and conference venue. The present Hall was built by Sir Robert Smirke in 1825 for Sir Robert Sheffield. Parts of the Hall would be used as a conference and wedding venue, whilst other rooms would be dressed in Regency style circa 1830 and opened to the public. Between 1964 and 1970, Michael Kirby developed the decorative arts collections by collecting furniture, textiles, ceramics, paintings, silver ware and costume for display in the Hall. The Sheffield family have since given and loaned back a number of family paintings and objects for display in Normanby Hall, including an Erard Piano, a grandfather clock and a painting of the Marquis of Normanby, son of the 1st Duke of Buckingham.

Currently a number of rooms are open to the public at Normanby Hall, including much of the ground floor and the main bedrooms, a bathroom and nursery on the first floor. The majority of the display rooms are dressed in Regency style and feature furniture, ceramics, paintings and decorative art appropriate to the period. Amongst the items on display, key objects include a Napoleon III death mask, a number of pieces of furniture made by Messrs Gillow of Lancaster, including a breakfront bookcase and an oak table from Marlborough House. The first floor displays include a Victorian Nursery, an Edwardian Bathroom, the Normanby At War Gallery and a Costume Gallery, which features a new exhibition each season drawing on the extensive costume collection. Other rooms on the ground floor and first floor form the catering, conference and wedding suites.

NLC has continued to develop the visitor offer at NHCP. The Farming Museum was opened in 1989, and its displays tell the story of traditional farming and rural life in North Lincolnshire. Objects on display include farm machinery, carts and wagons, much of which was made by local firms such as Fletchers of Winterton and Marshalls of Gainsborough. The Victorian Walled Garden was originally built by the Sheffield’s in 1817. It was restored to its Victorian splendour and reopened in 1997. As well as extensive vegetable, flower and trainer fruit beds, the Walled Garden includes re-creations of working and living areas in the potting shed, bothy and head gardener’s office.

In 1990, Scunthorpe Borough Council and Glanford Borough Council, which together covered the north-western part of South Humberside and northern Lincolnshire, adopted a Joint Archaeological Collecting Policy. This relationship was formalised in 1996, when county borders were revised and North Lincolnshire was carved out of the county of Humberside and part of northern Lincolnshire. Scunthorpe Museum and Art Gallery was renamed North Lincolnshire Museum, a name more accurately reflecting the scope and range of the collections. The reorganisation saw the Scunthorpe and Glanford Borough collections and museums, including Baysgarth House Museum, merged together into one North Lincolnshire wide museum service.

In 2004 management of BHM was transferred to the Community Heritage Arts & Media Project (CHAMP). The Glanford Borough collection remained with NLMS, and the items on display at BHM were loaned to CHAMP as part of the lease agreement. NLMS and CHAMP continue to work closely together, with Barton upon Humber related items regularly loaned by NLMS for temporary exhibitions and to refresh permanent displays at BHM.

Key Acquisitions

Key acquisitions to the Archaeology Collection include:

• 1909 – 1956, 2014: The Dudley Collection of Prehistoric flints, and Iron Age and Roman settlement material, collected from the warrens around Scunthorpe and local iron workings. The most recent additions being a small amount of material which Dudley had retained which was donated by his granddaughter.
• 1933: The Bagmoor Late Bronze Age Hoard of socketed axeheads, spearheads, a chisel and a bucket base.
• 1939: The Anglo-Saxon Manton Hanging Bowl, made in the same workshop as the Sutton Hoo Hanging Bowl.
• 1943: The Bronze Age Appleby Log Boat, made from a single tree trunk, found on the bed of the Old River Ancholme.
• 1958 – 1967, and 1981: Winterton Roman Villa excavation archives including the Winterton Fortuna Mosaic.
• 1961 – 2011: The Alan Harrison Collection, metal detected objects from a number of key sites in North Lincolnshire including Kirmington Iron Age – Roman Settlement and Winteringham Roman Port and Settlement.
• 1963: The Kirmington Hoard of over 10,000 3rd century Roman radiate coins, the third largest coin hoard of that date found in Britain to date.
• 1964 – 1968: Dragonby Iron Age – Roman Settlement excavation archive, including the Dragonby Mars Gravidus and Mars Ultor figurines.
• 1969: The Mossop Collection of small finds from Roman sites at Kirmington, Ludford and Owmby.
• 1972 – 1979: The Hilda Sands Collection of small finds from Roman sites at Owmby and Kirmington.
• 1975 – 1976: Elsham Anglo-Saxon Cemetery excavation archive.
• 1975 – 2009: The Ethel H. Rudkin Collection of local antiquities, including the Neolithic Wroot Jadeite Axe.
• 1984: Thornholme Priory excavation archive, including the Thornholme Medieval Grave Slab.
• 1989: The Walter Carlile Collection of field walked and metal detected finds from South Ferriby parish.
• 1994: The Scotterthorpe Middle Bronze Age Hoard of palstave axeheads, a socketed axehead and socketed hammer.
• 1999: The Bottesford Hoard of Roman denarii.
• 2002: The Chris Marshall Collection of metal detected finds from local sites including Kettleby Thorpe and Ketsby.
• 2003: The Whitton Viking Silver-gilt Brooch.
• 2005: The Viking Theddlethorpe Silver Finger Ring.
• 2005: The Late Neolithic Ulceby Beaker. Originally found in the late nineteenth century and preserved in Ulceby Vicrage. Shortly after it was lost to archaeological view, eventually resurfacing at auction in 2005.
• 2005: The Scotterthorpe Runic Inscription.
• 2006: Cleatham Anglo-Saxon Cemetery excavation archive, the paper archive, urns and finds from the third largest Early Anglo-Saxon cemetery found to date.
• 2007: Hibaldstow Roman Roadside Settlement excavation archives.
• 2007: The Goxhill Tudor Bailiffs Wand of Office belonging to Sir Robert Tyrwhitt of Kettleby, Vice Admiral of England and bailiff of the King’s Manor of Barton upon Humber under Henry VIII.
• 2008: The Bigby Medieval Coin Hoard.
• 2009: Flixborough Early Medieval Settlement excavation archive. The finds and paper archive from the excavation of an important 7th – 11th century settlement.
• 2009: The Roman Winterton Cup, an enamelled soldier’s souvenir from Hadrian’s Wall.
• 2013: The Roman Appleby Wine Jug Handle.
• 2014: The Brigg Late Bronze Age Sword Hoard.

Key acquisitions to the Natural Science Collection include:

• 1909: The Reverend Cutts Collection of geological material from local quarries, a founder and founding collection of the Museum.
• 1909 – 1956: The Dudley Collection of local fossils from the Frodingham Ironstone and local quarries.
• 1909 – 1939: The A. M. Cobban Collection of local maps, boreholes and Jurassic Fossils, a founding collector and collection of the Museum.
• 1930: The Canon Cross Collection of rocks and fossils collected during the construction of the railways and used in 1874 to illustrate the first paper describing the geology of north west Lincolnshire.
• 1940: The Miss A. L. Sich Collection of Jurassic and Cretaceous fossils, minerals and recent molluscs.
• 1942: The H. Greaves Collection of rocks and minerals from Australia.
• 1949: The G. V. Standerline Collection of geological specimens, including crystals from Cumberland.
• 1986: Fossil bones from an Ichthyosaur from Middlegate Quarry, South Ferriby.
• 1987: Fossil bones from an Ichthyosaur from Yarborough Mine, Scunthorpe.
• 1990: Fossil bones from the hind part of a Plesiosaur from Crosby Warren Mine.
• 1991: The Joe Duddington Lepidoptera Collection of butterflies and moths from the Scunthorpe area.

Key acquisitions to the Social History Collection include:

• 1948: French made 1860s Velocipede ‘bone shaker’ bicycle. One of a small number of survivals, many were melted down during the First World War.
• 1960s: Sheffield Family uniforms, clothing worn by Lady Sheffield on cruises and servants uniforms.
• 1960s – 1970s: The Regency Silver Collection, a number of pieces of Regency tableware collected from various sources over a period of years.
• 1962: Miniature Yorkshire Farm Wagon, late nineteenth century.
• 1962: Iron Stone Cottage, a pre 1860 cottage built from Frodingham Ironstone. The cottage was dismantled and moved to the Museum ahead of demolition, as an example of the type of housing built to house workers in the rapidly expanding iron and steel industry.
• 1964: The Parkinson Collection, a collection of silk costume belonging to Reverend John Parkinson c.1790, worn to take undergraduates on tours of the continent.
• 1964: An impressive carved mahogany bookcase by Gillows of Lancaster, c.1810.
• 1964: The Normanby Estate Fire Engine, a 1900 horse-drawn steamer operated by the Normanby Park Fire Brigade.
• 1964: Plaster cast of the death mask of Napoleon I.
• 1965: The John Arthur Jackson Collection of Chinese, Japanese and Indian ivory ornaments.
• 1965: Hermaphrodite Wagon, used by Charles Bayles at Binbrook Hill Farm, Caistor.
• 1967: ‘Emperor Otho’ by Peter Paul Rubens, painted as one of a series of the Twelve Emperors by Rubens himself. Nine in the series have been located, and three remain missing.
• 1968: Oil painting of Mrs Alice Wood by Sir Thomas Lawrence, c1830.
• 1969: Pre-1874 green Penfold Pillar Box, one of around 150 still in existence. One of the earliest pillar boxes to be used in Britain.
• 1969: Threshing Machine made by Marshalls of Gainsborough.
• 1970: Triptych ‘Lovemaking in Lissenden Gardens’ by Anthony Green, 1964.
• 1970: Lincolnshire spindle-sided wagon, early nineteenth century, used by the Evison family at Marsh Chapel until the mid twentieth century.
• 1972 – 2014: The Ethel H. Rudkin Collection: Objects relating to local folklore, including Plough Jag Hobby Horse and Fool costumes, a running hood from the Haxey Hood game and a Largus lamp. The most recent acquisitions in 2014 include a corn dolly and witch balls previously in Sheffield University’s collection.
• 1976, 1997 and 2012: The Fowler Collection, collection of engravings by William Fowler (1761 – 1832) a local amateur antiquarian, joiner and architect showing Roman mosaics, stained glass windows and architectural subjects has been developed over a number of years. A major acquisition of engravings in 1976 has since been supplemented by further engraving acquisitions. In 1997 an extensive collection of architectural designs, working drawings, correspondence, personal papers and engravings was acquired and added to the Fowler Collection. In 2012 further engravings and William Fowler’s watch were donated by descendents of Fowler.
• 1988: Hermaphrodite Wagon, a Lincolnshire farm wagon made by the Frankish family of Grasby.
• 1989: Sackcloth running hood from the Haxey Hood, one of twelve used in the game.
• 1993:1901 Model 107 Johnson’s Motorcycle, made by Johnson’s Cycles of Scunthorpe, the only one of this model known to still survive.
• 2009: Two pieces of graffiti from Pingley Prisoner of War Camp.
• 2014: Scent flask, c1825 that belonged to Sir Berkeley Sheffield.

Key acquisitions to the Local History / Archives Collection include:

• 1960s – 2010s: Sheffield Family and Estates papers, records and photographs.
• 1997: The Peacock Family Archive. A collection of family papers, correspondence, documents, publications and a dialect card index, related to the varied interests of the Peacock Family.
• 1999 – 2010: The Ethel H. Rudkin Archive: Photographs, papers, and books relating to Ethel H Rudkin’s local history and folklore research and publications and including personal papers and photographs.
• 2008: The Nick Lyons Collection of local history documents and research papers.
• 2014: The George Parker Collection, a series of glass plate negatives taken by a local photographer during the late 19th and early 20th century.

Source: Collection development policy

Date: 2020

Licence: CC BY-NC

As per the stated mission of the NLMS to collect and preserve objects and information related to the history of the North Lincolnshire region, NLMS has wide ranging collections of archival and three-dimensional material reflecting the geology, natural history, social history and archaeology of the region in and around North Lincolnshire. The collection can be divided into subjects the approximate sizes of which are:

Archaeology

The Archaeology collection consists of approximately 200,000 three-dimensional objects, mainly from the region in and around North Lincolnshire, together with excavation records and associated documentation.

All periods of the past, from the Palaeolithic to modern day, are represented in the collection.

This includes a number of large metal detected collections and finds and archives from a number of nationally and regionally important major excavations and field projects, including:

• Palaeolithic flints from Roxby cum Risby,
• Flint assemblages from the local warrens, including Risby Warren and Crosby Warren,
• Dragonby Iron Age to Roman Settlement,
• Kirmington Iron Age to Roman Settlement,
• Winterton Roman Villa,
• Hibaldstow Roman Roadside Settlement,
• Cleatham Anglo-Saxon Cemetery,
• Elsham Anglo-Saxon Cemetery,
• Castledyke Anglo-Saxon Cemetery,
• Flixborough Early Medieval Settlement,
• Thornholme Medieval Priory.

The collection includes human skeletal material from a number of cemetery excavations and single burials.

There is also a small but significant collection of coins and medals.

Natural Science

The Geology collection consists of approximately 5,000 fossils, primarily of local origin, and 2,000 rocks and minerals mainly of non-local origin. The core collection of local fossils was formed by Harold Dudley and his contemporaries in the early years of the Museum’s existence.

The fossils include a small collection of type, figured and cited specimens and a nationally important collection of fossils from the Frodingham Ironstone rocks.

There is also a collection of borehole specimens and logs, and geological maps dating from the first half of the 20th century.

The Biology collection consists of approximately: 400 herbarium sheets, 3,000 Lepidoptera, 2,000 marine invertebrates (mainly mollusc shells), 60 vials of spiders in alcohol, 1,000 vertebrate specimens and 4,000 photographic transparencies.

Social History

The Social History Collection consists of approximately 43,000 three-dimensional objects, including 7,000 items of costume, and 1,000 paintings and sculptures.

The collection covers the entire Post-Medieval period but the majority of the collection dates from the mid nineteenth century to the mid twentieth century.

The collection covers the whole of North Lincolnshire including agriculture, industry, particularly iron and steel, transport and domestic life.

The costume collection is of regional importance and items date from the early eighteenth to early twenty-first centuries. Important items include the Parkinson Collection, and Sheffield Family costume.

Fine art is represented by paintings and sculptures dating from the seventeenth century onwards including a collection of local paintings dating from c.1960 – 1990.

Decorative art consists of a good collection of furniture, ceramics and metalwork, mainly from the Regency period, a collection of European and Far Eastern ceramics, and a collection of ivory.

Local History / Archive

The Local History collection consists of approximately 45,000 archival documents, and 26,000 photographs, 11,000 of which have been digitised on to the web based North Lincolnshire Museum Service Image Archive.

Types of material can be categorised as:

• Unique historic documents,
• Photographic negatives and prints,
• Books, printed documents and ephemera,
• Sound recordings,
• Newspapers and magazines,
• Maps,
• Videos.

The NLMS does not collect original film, and any offers of donations are passed on to the appropriate film archive.

Most of the archival documents are on deposit at the North East Lincolnshire Archives.

The collection consists of material from the Medieval and Post-Medieval periods but the majority of the collection dates from the mid nineteenth century to the mid twentieth century.

The collection covers the whole of North Lincolnshire and complements the Social History collection. Key collections include the Ethel H. Rudkin Collection, the Peacock Family Collection and Sheffield Family and Estates papers.

Source: Collection development policy

Date: 2020

Licence: CC BY-NC

Boot and Shoe Collection

This is a collection of historic footwear, mainly shoes and boots from 1650 to the present day. There are approximately 12,000 items in total. Approximately 750 are items of ethnographical footwear and approximately 50 are items of theatrical footwear, including some associated with the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. There are also approximately 50 items of dance footwear, many from named dancers, and an archive including magazines and catalogues relating to the shoe trade.

Subjects

Theatrical footwear; Footwear; Ballet slippers; Shoes; Archives

Costume and Textiles Collection

Regional significance. The collection contains over 5,000 items, the largest section is women’s dresses 1770-1970. The Boot and Shoe collection is a designated collection and includes a large collection of footwear. About 5,500 items of equipment and samples relating to the East Midlands bobbin lace industry.

Subjects

Footwear industry; Bootmakers; Footwear; Lace industry; Boots; Clothing; Lace manufacture; Shoe industry; Bootmaking; Costume and Textile; Lace; Boot and Shoe; Fashion; Shoemakers; Shoemaking; Shoes; Lace makers; Dresses

Decorative and Applied Arts Collection

The collection includes approx. 4,100 items excluding furniture: English, European and North African ceramics; glass; metalwork; enamels; oriental collection. The greatest strength is the fine collections of British and Oriental ceramics given early this century by 5 private collectors. Local significance and international interest.

Subjects

Ceramics; Decorative glass; Glass painting; Decorative arts; Furniture; Glass; Crafts; Metalwork (product)

Fine Art Collection

Local significance and International interest. The collection contains approx. 2,700 items in various media, including sculpture. The main element is British easel paintings and works on paper from 19th and 20th centuries. Non-British pictures include important group of 17th and 18th century paintings; works of high quality by secondary masters, particularly from the Venetian School.

Subjects

Fine arts; Sculpture; Paintings; Drawings

Social History Collection

Local significance. The social history collections cover community life, civic affairs, working life, industrial processes and the full range of personal and domestic life material. Some 27,800 items in total.

Subjects

Community; Industrial production; Domestic life; Social history

Archaeology Collection

Material ranging from Bronze Age to post-medieval period accumulated since 19th century. Recently excavated part of collection comprises some 6,000 boxes: 2,000 material from Northampton Borough and rest from elsewhere in county. Provisionally approved store under English Heritage scheme. Ancient Egyptian collection of approx. 221 items from prehistory to Ptolemaic period. Local significance and international interest.

Subjects

Egyptian history; Archaeological sites; Archaeology; Archaeological objects

Ancient Egyptian Collection

International interest. The museum holds 221 ancient Egyptian objects which are part of the Archaeology collection. Some of these objects were presumably acquired in Egypt by Spencer Joshua Alwyn Compton, second Marquis of Northampton, during a trip in Egypt in 1849-50, was loaned and, in the 1870s, donated to the museum by his son. Some of the material is on display in the Abington Museum, the remainder is stored in the Northampton Museum. Classes of objects represented in the collection include: amulets; faience figures; faience vessels; jewellery; metal figures; human remain (mummies); musical instruments; papyri; pottery; scarabs/sealings; shabtis; stelae (stone); stelae (wood); stone figures; stone vessels; tomb models; wooden figures; and palm leaf sandals. Objects are known to have come from the following locations in Egypt: Gizeh(?); Saqqarah; Thebes.

Subjects

Antiquities; Ancient civilizations; Antiquity; Egyptology

Numismatics Collection

Local significance The collection contains approx. 12,000 coins and tokens in archaeology department. Approx. 800 medals in social history department. Particular strengths of the collection are coins from Northampton mint and large number of Northampton tokens and checks.

Subjects

Numismatics; Archaeology; Tokens; Medals; Coins

Agriculture Collection

Local significance. Small collection of agricultural material.

Subjects

Agriculture

Biology Collection

Local significance The collection includes collection of mounted specimens, herbarium (4,560 items), mollusca collection (3,222 items), and small collection of birds’ eggs and forestry seeds.

Subjects

Seeds; Molluscs; Natural sciences; Plants; Birds; Eggs; Forestry; Biology

Geology Collection

Local significance and International interest. The collection contains approx. 40,000 items of which 75% are Northamptonshire Jurassic finds acquired mainly from the outstanding 19th century local collectors, Spencer Compton and Beeby Thompson. Over 100 type and figured specimens. The remaining 25% consists of fossils from outside the county, and a world-wide mineral collection. The collection also includes some rare books on geology.

Subjects

Fossils; Books; Geology; Minerals

Ethnography Collection

The collection is held in store. Most of it is poorly provenanced (although identified) and was purchased for display many years ago or has been the result of casual donation, it has little local relevance.

Subjects

Ethnography

Archives Collection

Local significance. Not separately identified as a class of material but the geology collection includes “rare books”. The Boot and Shoe collection’s research library includes trade catalogues, documents, photographs, printed ephemera and boot and shoe trade magazines.

Subjects

Printed ephemera; Shoes; Geology; Archives; Trade associations; Boots

Source: Cornucopia

Date: Not known, but before 2015

Licence: CC BY-NC