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Weston Museum was founded in 1861 when William Mable, a London shoemaker and antiquarian, gave his collection to the Night School with the aim of it becoming a Museum for the Town.

William Mable had moved from London to Weston-super-Mare in 1852 and become fascinated by the excavations taking place at Worlebury Hillfort. He was saddened by the fact that there was no repository in the Town where artefacts discovered in excavations such as these could be deposited and made accessible to the public, later writing that:

‘A feeling of remorse came over me and I thought here is a rapidly rising town with such an ancient encampment and no place provided to receive the articles of antiquity found in and about it, but as needs must, they were sent to a neighbouring town. This ought not to have been and I resolved to secure a Museum for the town of Weston, free to the public at all reasonable times. As soon after as convenient I collected such specimens of natural history as I thought necessary and began to talk about my project. I received little encouragement and a considerable amount of ridicule. The latter did not in the least deter me because I knew if it had been the Mayor and Corporation there would be some chance of success. However, I stuck to my scheme…’

The founding collections were broad in their scope and included both local material relating to Weston-super-Mare and its surrounding areas as well as material from across the UK and

from around the world. Archaeology, fine and decorative art, costume and textiles, ethnography, geology, numismatics and social history were all collected.

In 1863, the Albert Memorial Hall was built as a new home for the Night School. The building was extended in 1868 to include a Superintendent’s house and a large room to house the Museum.

Although William Mable always envisaged his collection passing into the care and ownership of the Town it took several years before a transfer was arranged. In 1897 the Trustees of the Museum suggested that the Urban District Council should assume responsibility for the Museum but agreement could not be reached over the terms of transfer. Eventually an agreement was reached and the Urban District Council embarked on the construction of a purpose-built Museum and Library on the Boulevard. The museum collections were moved here and the Museum opened to the public on 27 June 1901.

After nearly 75 years of close association the Museum and Library services were separated on 1 April 1974 as part of a local government reorganisation. Governance of the Museum was transferred to Woodspring District Council and on 30 June 1957 the museum collection was moved into the newly converted Weston-super-Mare Gaslight Company Workshops and Stores building. From this date the Museum’s collecting area broadened to encompass the whole of District of Woodspring not just Weston-super-Mare and the Museum became known as ‘Woodspring Museum’.

During this period collecting activity continued to have a broad focus. Local material from sites in Weston-super-Mare and its surrounding areas were collected. However, reference collections of material from across the UK and from around the world were also built up.

In April 1996, Woodspring District Council and Avon County Council were abolished in a local government reorganisation. Governance of the Museum was transferred to a new unitary authority, NSC, which has the same boundaries as Woodspring District Council but now fulfils all the functions formerly carried out by the Woodspring District Council and Avon County Council. From the 1 July 1996 the Museum was renamed ‘The Time Machine’ and then subsequently ‘North Somerset Museum’.

In 2010 NSC decided to close the Museum as part of a money saving exercise. There was widespread protest against the decision and a strongly expressed local view that closing the Museum would result in a deplorable loss to Weston-super-Mare and its heritage. In response to this new management arrangements were agreed. In 2011 WSMTC took on ownership and responsibility for the building, safeguarding it for the Town. The Museum was renamed the Weston-super-Mare Museum.

Through this development Service Level Agreements between WSMTC, NSC and SCC were produced to ensure that the Museum’s public services continued and that the museum collection would be cared for and managed to professionally recognised standards. In November 2014 SWHT was established. Part of its remit is to fulfil the obligations of SCC as set out in the Service Level Agreements. The management arrangements are set out in more detail in Section 4 of the Collections Management Framework.

The Museum’s public services and buildings are operated and managed by WSMTC. The collections remain in the ownership of NSC and are stored, cared for and managed by the SWHT at the Somerset Heritage Centre near Taunton, where environmentally controlled storage conditions help preserve the objects for future generations. The collections are accessible to WSMTC for display in the Museum for a minimum of 25 years through a Service Level Agreement with NSC, with assured professional curatorial assistance from the SWHT through a separate Service Level Agreement with SCC.

From April 2015, the Museum closed to the public for a period of just over two years for a Heritage Lottery Funded redevelopment. During the closure, essential building work took place, and the displays were completely redesigned. During this period the Museum was renamed WM.

WM reopened to the public on 26 August 2017.

Source: Collection development policy

Date: 2018

Licence: CC BY-NC

The NSC museum collection contains around 50,000 individual objects. The collection can be split into the following broad areas: archaeology, art, costume and textiles, geology, natural history, numismatics and social history. 3% of the collection is currently on display in WM, the remaining 97% is stored at the Somerset Heritage Centre near Taunton. This is a purpose-built storage facility, which opened in September 2010, and houses collections cared for by the SWHT, as well as design and digitisation functions, conservation facilities and the curatorial team. Less than 1% of the collection is out on loan to other accredited museums and organisations.

As a whole, the collection is of major local and sub-regional significance. Some individual items have regional and national significance.

Description of Items	Number of Items	% of Collection
Gifts	21,971	44%
Purchases	4,442	9%
Loans In	213	0.4%
Transfers	88	0.2%
Unknown Source	23,407	47%
Total	c. 50,000	100%

Archaeology

Archaeology represents 30% of the NSC museum collection.

The archaeology collection comprises material representing the archaeology of North Somerset and its surrounding area from the Palaeolithic to the 21^st century. There are strong collections for the Ice Age, Iron Age and Roman periods, and there is a growing collection of industrial archaeology material, particularly from the Nailsea area. There is also a small body of non-local British material, and some foreign material.

The archaeology collection contains significant material from the Mesolithic period onwards including the excavated finds from the Roman temples at Brean Down and Henley Wood, Yatton. Outstanding individual items include a fine Roman patera or pan made of bronze, and a romanesque carving from Weston parish church.

Fine and Decorative Art

Fine and decorative art represents 2% of the NSC museum collection.

The fine and decorative art collection comprises a representative selection of works by local artists and craftspeople and representations of local people and places dating from the 1600s to the present day. There are strong collections of oil and watercolour paintings and art pottery from North Somerset.

The fine art collection contains a significant group of oil portraits of the Smyth-Piggott family, an important set of watercolour paintings of local people known as the Weston Worthies produced by an unidentified artist in the 1850s and much local topographical art of good quality.

The decorative art collection includes significant groups of Brislington delftware, Eltonware and Fishley Holland pottery and products made by the Royal Potteries. There is a nationally significant collection of material by the graphic artist Alfred Leete (1882-1933), most famous for his iconic image of Lord Kitchener produced during the First World War. Outstanding individual items include two portraits by Thomas Gainsborough, a pair of portraits by John Hayls and a delftware plate depicting Adam and Eve.

Costume and Textiles

Costume and textiles represents 2% of the NSC museum collection.

The costume and textiles collection includes men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and accessories and textiles made or used in North Somerset. The majority of the collection dates from the 1850s to the present day, reflecting Weston-super-Mare’s development as a seaside resort.

The costume and textiles collection includes a small but significant group of garments made locally by named makers. There is also an important collection of uniforms and occupational clothing. Outstanding individual items include an embroidered teacloth dating to the 1600s, a side-saddle riding habit dating to the 1890s made by James Salisbury of Weston-super-Mare and a fine pair of shoes dating to the 1600s.

Geology

Geology represents 6% of the NSC museum collection.

The geology collections include palaeontological specimens that range from the Devonian to Quaternary, with particular emphasis on the Carboniferous, as well as minerals and some petrological specimens.

There is a small but significant collection of samples of local minerals which includes some petrological specimens. Significant individual items include the remains of fossil ichthyosaurs.

Natural History

Natural history represents 6% of the NSC museum collection.

The natural history collection includes zoological and botanical material. The zoological collection is small and consists mainly of vertebrates, in particular British mammals and birds. The majority of the botanical material dates from the mid to late 19th century.

There is a small but significant collection of exotic mammals, including an elephant skull. There is also a significant group of herbarium specimens of tracheophytes.

Numismatics

Numismatics represents 5% of the NSC museum collection.

The numismatic collection spans all periods of human activity within North Somerset. The collection includes coins, as well as groups of trade tokens and commemorative medals relating to local and national events.

There are several significant coin hoards from Roman and later periods. Outstanding individual items include a gold aureus of Claudius

Social History

Social history represents 49% of the NSC museum collection.

The social history collection is very large and is categorised under the headings of domestic, social and working life. Within these themes there are notable collections of or relating to seaside holidays and tourism, cameras, Second World War Home Front, transport, chemists, dairying equipment, local retailers, children’s artist Ivy Millicent James, toys, bicycles, picture postcards and other photographs, bakelite, radios, and local commemorabilia.

The social history collection is significant/very significant. It includes excellent objects reflecting Weston-super-Mare’s history as a holiday resort. Other notable items include eight penny-farthing bicycles and a flatner boat.

Source: Collection development policy

Date: 2018

Licence: CC BY-NC

The core collection comprises the items which have been commissioned or collected by the Earls of Bradford and their ancestors for Weston Park and also for other properties associated with the family, including Castle Bromwich Hall in Warwickshire, Great Lever Hall in Lancashire (now within Greater Manchester), St.Catherine’s in Cumbria and also London residences. These items include furniture ranging from a 17^th century oak refectory table to 19^th century pieces supplied by Edward Holmes Baldock, spanning also items attributed to the workshop of Thomas Chippendale and an outstanding group of pieces documented as from Morel & Hughes. There are also French and Italian pieces of furniture, much of the former probably acquired from the marchand-mercier Martin-Eloi Ligneroux. The collection of decorative arts also includes tapestries by Vanderbank and a set of Gobelins tapestries. Silver, of 17^th century to 20^th century date and ceramics of Chinese and Japanese manufacture, plus pieces made at Sevres, Worcester, Coalport, Caughley, Derby, Chelsea, and Bow are also represented. The fine art collection includes an outstanding group of portraits by van Dyck, plus other portraits by Holbein, Reynolds, Hoppner, Gainsborough, Lely, Kneller and also two notable works by Constable. The collection also contains works by Stubbs, Vernet, Bassano, Ferneley, Mengs and Salvator Rosa.

In addition to the important works are items of great intrinsic importance to the house or family, including a group of staff portraits by Thomas Weaver, plus domestic items which reflect the social history of the property.

The Weston Park Foundation collection relates to items associated with Weston Park, the estates of the family and the members of the family. Whilst most items tend to date from the 17^th century onwards, there are early antiquities within the collection including a fragmentary Roman mosaic from Hadrian’s Villa which has been incorporated into a 19^th century table. Scope of collecting is therefore from earliest times to the twentieth century, providing the Foundation’s criteria are adhered to.

The geographical area of collecting is dictated by the extent of the Earls of Bradford’s ancestors’ estates and therefore has a UK-wide extent, although the origin of items means that they might be of international creation.

The collection is largely that which was transferred to the Weston Park Foundation through the aegis of the National Heritage Memorial Fund in 1986. These items are known as “Owner 1”. A number of items at that time were retained by the family and are held in a trust for the life time of Richard, 7^th and present Earl of Bradford. On loan to the Weston Park Foundation and available for public access at Weston Park, these items are known as “Owner 2”.

Source: Collection development policy

Date: Not known

Licence: CC BY-NC

Maritime Collection

This is the core collection of the museum. It includes shipwreck artefacts including relics of the Royal Adelaide and the East Indiaman the Earl of Abergaveny; a paddle steamer collection; ship models; ships’ chins; seamen’s personal items; Royal Navy ships’ crests, photographs and prints; and material relating to smuggling including the tombstone of Lt Thomas Knight, killed by smugglers.

Subjects

Maritime

Fine Art Collection

There is a large and interesting collection of local pictures and prints, including the greater part of the Bussell collection; a life-size equestrian portrait of George III after Beechley; a portrait of Sir Christopher Wren by Sir Godfrey Kneller; and a portrait of Sir James Thornhill by William Hogarth.

Subjects

Fine Art

Science and Industry Collection

The museum houses artefacts from a range of local industries including: the records of the Whitehead Torpedo Works which first came to the town in the 19th century; artefacts relating to local ship and boat building and ancillary trades such as chandlers and fishing; and the Ludlow collection of brewing artefacts including the archive of the old established brewery firm of Devenish and their competitors John Groves, before the two firms merged in the 1960s. The Devenish material includes the company boardroom silver; the Grant of Arms of the company; the boardroom furniture including a William IV sideboard, a longcase clock, a bracket clock, instruments and portraits in oil of family heads of the firm.

Subjects

Science and Industry

Social History Collection

The museum has the borough collection of robes, wigs and insignia of civic dignitaries; constables staves of office in brass and wood; bounds rods in ebony and silver; bronze regulation measures; silver trumpets; and a collection of portraits in oil and photograph of past mayors. A curious addition to the regalia is a ULU throwing club. There is also First and Second World War memorabilia; seaside artefacts such as swimsuits, pinball machines and crested commemorative china, as well as the bath and much restored bathing machine used by George III during his visits to the town. There is a small collection of clocks and assorted toys.

Subjects

Social History

Transport Collection

Artefacts relating to the Great Western Railway include cast iron notices; track samples; flags; uniforms; and timetables.

Subjects

Transport

Archives Collection

The museum houses the borough collection of records including the borough Charter, the Sherren Papers, the minute books of committees and a collection of maps and archival ephemera.

Subjects

Archives

Source: Cornucopia

Date: Not known, but before 2015

Licence: CC BY-NC

Photographic Collection

This is an important photographic archive of the china clay industry at Wheal Martyn.

Subjects

Photographic equipment

Archives Collection

This is an important archive representing the documentary history of the china clay industry at Wheal Martyn. It includes books; account ledgers; trade journals; newsletters; setts and leases; and maps and plans.

Subjects

Archives

Source: Cornucopia

Date: Not known, but before 2015

Licence: CC BY-NC

Photographic Collection

This important collection consists of 17,000 photographs, mainly negatives or glass-slides and some equipment of Frank Meadow Sutcliffe, the Doran Brothers, Lambert Smith, Tom Watson and John Tindale. Frank Meadow Sutcliffe (1853-1941) A nationally and internationally acclaimed pioneering photographer who worked in Whitby from the mid-1870’s until 1941. Most of his famous photographs were taken for his own satisfaction and show the harbour, fishing and fisher-folk. The Whitby Literary and Philosophical Society has the copyright of the images and are available from the Sutcliffe Gallery, Flowergate, Whitby, who also publish several volumes of selected images. Tom Watson of Lythe (1863-1957) was a contemporary of Sutcliffe, and his photographs of everyday life and scenes are social documents of the late Victorian and Edwardian era. All his photographs were developed and printed without the aid of electricity. Hugh Lambert-Smith (1900-1981) was born in Whitby and served as a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps during World War One, qualified as an optician in the town, later running a photographic business as a sideline. He was also a painter, designing for the “Wings for Victory” campaign in World War Two, producing a mural for the wall of the Whitby Mission to Seamen and designing scenery for amateur dramatic productions. He was a founder member and president of the Whitby Photographic Society. Many of his negatives, covering Whitby and district from the 1930’s to the 1960’s. The Doran Brothers, Terry and Eric, inherited the family photographer’s business started by their grandfather in 1905. They photographed many of the marine amd shipping subjects which passed their premises on Marine Parade next to the harbour during the post-war years, including fishing and the work of the lifeboats. They retired in 1987 and their collection of negatives was purchased in 1994, with financial assistance from the Marquis of Normanby. John Tindale, now retired, was for many years a chemist and professional photographer in Whitby. A large collection of his prints from the 1950’s taken for the Whitby Gazette, were donated to Whitby Museum after the newspaper was sold by the original owners, the Horne family, in the 1980’s. They record post-war changes to social life in the Town as well as much re-building, besides the later years of the Fishing industry. 17,000 photographs, mainly negatives or glass-slides and some equipment of Frank Meadow Sutcliffe, the Doran Brothers, Lambert Smith, Tom Watson and John Tindale.

Subjects

Photographic equipment

Personalia Collection

Captain James Cook collection of about 400 items includes muster rolls listing the Whitby ships on which he served, his sea chest, an original hand-drawn map, signed and made as a non-commissioned officer, when he surveyed the coast of Newfoundland, an autograph letter written in 1772 from Great Ayton, four pages of manuscript forming the only known surviving part of the original draft of his “Journal” describing incidents on his voyage towards the south pole in 1773-74, another page describing incidents on the 6th August 1774, a letter addressed to his former master and friend, John Walker of Whitby and models of “Resolution” and “Endeavour”.

Subjects

Personalia

Science and Industry Collection

Ship models including a collection of bone and ivory ship models made by French prisoners of war; 30 ship models by Edwin Turnbull 1830 – 1874, a Whitby watchmaker, jeweller and also a lifeboatman, Edwin Turnbull exhibited his work at the Great Exhibition of 1851and the Graham Leach Collection of models, ships, scenes, figures, buildings all in light bulbs of varying sizes. Some of the models work. Graham Leach was the surveyor for Whitby Rural District Council and one of his life-long hobbies has been building these models. The Shipping collection demonstrates the early history of boats and ships, the development of sailing ships, the local fishing industry, lifeboats, steamships with the emphasis on those locally owned, and navigation instruments, together with a small but exceptional collection of bone and ivory ship models made by French prisoners of war; 30 ship models by Edwin Turnbull 1830 – 1874, a Whitby watchmaker, jeweller and also a lifeboatman, Edwin Turnbull exhibited his work at the Great Exhibition of 1851and the Graham Leach Collection of models, ships, scenes, figures, buildings all in light bulbs of varying sizes. Some of the models work. Graham Leach was the surveyor for Whitby Rural District Council and one of his life-long hobbies has been building these models. es kayaks of which of course Whitby Museum possesses a fine example! Figure head for the brig ‘Levant’.

Subjects

Science and Industry

Archaeology Collection

Includes Mesolithic and Neolithic flints, prehistoric and Bronze Age weapons and pots, stone tools, iron age artefacts from Roxby and Roman pottery, pots, and glass from Goldsborough Signal Station (4th century AD), medieval pottery, and glass from Ruswarp Kiln and Whitby Abbey and a C13th Catalan Iron-furnace. The collection includes fake flints produced by the notorious local forger of Victorian times, Flint Jack. Also the Mesolithic collection includes material from Star Carr. Hull and East Riding Museum also has Flint Jack material and I suspect many other Yorkshire museums. The collection includes fake flints produced by the notorious local forger of Victorian times, Flint Jack.

Subjects

Archaeology

Decorative and Applied Art Collection

This small collection has ceramics, glass, dolls and toys. and Whitby Jet jewellery and other jet items. The ceramics include Yorkshire Pottery from Linthorpe and Commondale, to Staffordshire, Derby, Chelsea Derby and Rockingham and oriental pottery. The glass collection has early glass bottles, rolling pins and fancy glass walking sticks and Bristol glass. The doll and toy collection includes baby cradles and a Noah’s Ark reputed to have been made by Napoleonic prisoners-of-war, two dolls houses- one modelled on No. 17 St Hilda’s Terrace, punch and judy dolls and a series of Victorian and Edwardian dolls and toys. The major collection is Jet of about 550 pieces, with a variety of jewellery and other objects including 2 chess tables and a worker’s model. The major collection is Jet with a variety of jewellery and other objects including a worker’s model and 2 chess tables. Designed and carved by John Sherwood (b.1846) of Church Street, Whitby. The board was begun in 1895 and intended for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897. However, it was not completed until 1899, and was then shown at the Glasgow Exhibition of 1901. Three such chess boards were made in Whitby. The first of 1853 does not survive, but this and the third is also in the care of Whitby Museum.

Subjects

Decorative and Applied Arts

Fine Art Collection

The picture collection consists mainly of 19th century and early 20th century paintings, oils and water-colours, painted by local artists or of local scenes. There is also an extensive collection of “pier-head” paintings of ships.

Subjects

Fine Art

Ethnography Collection

The collection is largely from Whitby seamen and includes artefacts from all the continents especially Japanese and Nepalese armour, Japanese ivory, Indian brass, bead necklaces, calabash, girdles from Africa and Maori weapons.

Subjects

Ethnography

Social History Collection

A large range of material from the 18th and 19th centuries covering domestic and farming.

Subjects

Social History

Numismatics Collection

The collection coins, medals and tokens, about 2000, ranges from the Romans to present. There are also commemorative medallions, some local, depicting the opening of railways, bridges etc. The medals start with Trafalgar and go through to the Great War of 1939-45s. There are also life-saving medals such as one belonging to Henry Freeman the sole survivor of the 1861 disaster.

Subjects

Numismatics

Costume and Textile Collection

One of the best collections of needle-work samplers in the UK (second only to that at the Fitzwilliam Museum). There are about 100 ranging from 1714 to 1992. Many have local connections, particularly with the Quakers. There are over 200 ladies costumes of the 18th and 19th centuries and one of the best collections of needle-work samplers in the UK (second only to that at the Fitzwilliam Museum). There are about 100 ranging from 1714 to 1992. Many have local connections, particularly with the Quakers.

Subjects

Costume and Textile

Geology Collection

About 6000 specimens almost all are fossils, 98% or 5850, of exceptional quality and scientific value as there are over 200 primary type fossils, mainly holotypes and many figured specimens of ammonites, belemnites, plants and marine reptiles, all local. They are mainly illustrated on a dedicated web site www.durain.demon.co.uk/type/ftlist.htm 200 primary type fossils, mainly holotypes and many figured specimens of ammonites, belemnites, plants and marine reptiles, all local. They are mainly illustrated on a dedicated website.

Subjects

Geology

Arms and Armour Collection

Included in the collection are a pair of flint pistols used by Sir Robert Moorsom at Trafalgar, a pair of ladies muff pistols from The Great Exhibition which are of Belgian manufacture, various other pistols from the mid 18th century, blunderbusses and an early line throwing gun used in shore to ship rescue along with a number of interesting long guns, a rapier with a black-japanned hilt for mourning use and a light cavalry sabre from Eliotts Dragoons 1775-60 (one in Royal collection at Windsor) and various other swords, various flasks etc., and a collection of constables staffs (truncheons). There are also uniforms from the North Yorkshire Artillery Volunteers and other related items.

Subjects

Arms and Armour

Biology Collection

The Natural History collection contains specimens of mammals -otter, pine martin, polecat, mink, mole, squirrels, badger, common seal and others; Birds and birds eggs of sea birds, waders, ducks and geese, game birds and raptors; British butterflies and moths and Marine Life of the area. In addition there are several specimens from the rest of Great Britain and Abroad, these include a Loggerhead Turtle, a Large Lobster, a skeleton of a Narwhal and a model of a Sunfish. There is also an herbaria of over 5000 British flowering plants and a particularly fine selection of mosses and lichens, dating back to 1850.

Subjects

Biology

Personalia Collection

The Scoresby collection includes some material of Scoresby Senior’s, but all of William Jnr’s scientific instruments and equipment, his geological and botanical samples, scientific drawings and papers, log books from the Arctic voyages, manuscripts of his published works, a library of published works, maps, lecture material and professional and private correspondence The Scoresby collection of 1330 items includes some material of Scoresby Senior’s, but all of William Jnr’s scientific instruments and equipment, his geological and botanical samples, scientific drawings and papers, log books from the Arctic voyages, manuscripts of his published works, a library of published works, maps, lecture material and professional and private correspondence. Capt. William Scoresby was born near Cropton in 1760 and died in 1829. A renowned whaling captain and navigator he invented the crow’s nest to protect seamen from severe weather conditions when on watch in the Arctic seas. His son the Rev. William Scoresby was also born near Cropton in 1789 and lived until 1857 , also whaling captain he surveyed the coasts of Greenland and Jan Mayan island and studied the flora and fauna and ice and snowflake formations under different weather conditions. He did about 300 experiments on the effect of iron and physical force on the reliability of the magnetic compass. After 30 years at sea he joined the church. In addition to his work on magnetism he also carried out experiments on electro-magnetism and was in communication with many famous scientists of his day such as Faraday, Sir Joseph Banks, Joule and Ampere.

Subjects

Personalia

Archives Collection

A collection of over 800 maps and plans, the majority of which are local or regional. The collection includes several early maps of Whitby. The Library now has over 7,500 volumes covering a wide range of subjects but is particularly strong, in topography, archaeology, local history, shipping and an unrivalled collection of works reflecting the development of geology and palaeontology. There are also many thousands of archive documents ranging from personal diaries, deeds and collections of family papers, ships’ muster-rolls, journals, logs, account books, shipping company records, to village and administrative records. including the Abbots’ Book or Cartulary of Whitby Abbey, loaned by the Strickland family. The archives also include the notes and collected documents of two local antiquaries. There are at least 39 volumes of notes and copied records collected by George Waddington (1821 – 98), specialising in deeds, North Riding records, family and religious records and including the epitaphs and gravestones in all the churchyards of the district. There are also 104 volumes of the Percy Burnett Papers containing copies of thousands of local history documents, together with 75 mss. volumes and 9 of press cuttings. Burnett (1903 – 72) was a deputy Treasurer of Whitby Urban District Council and Librarian of the Lit and Phil, who for over 40 years collected anything relevant to Whitby’s past. The archives also include the working notes and manuscripts of several local authors, such as Canon John Atkinson (1814 – 1900), an indefatigable but sceptical local historian and archaeologist; Frank Elgee (1903 – 72) the father of modern archaeology in Cleveland and North Yorkshire; and Mary Linskill (1840 – 91) the well-known novelist. The Library also contains several series of archaeological journals, and a complete set of the local newspaper (the Whitby Gazette, founded 1854 ). s.in 1854, for instance, it acquired 23 volumes of the Numismatic Society and in 1873 the library of the late Mr Henry Belcher (a founder member). In 1887 it received the portraits and books from the dissolved Whitby Institute, and in 1935 the Society was allowed to select some 300 volumes from the closing Whitby Subscription Library (with which it had shared a building since 1826), largely on local history, shipping, travel and natural history, together with the minute and cash books of the Subscription Library. In 1899 a 49 pp octave “List of Books, Pamphlets and Manuscripts in the Whitby Museum” was published, to which a 7 page appendix was added in 1908. There is a dictionary card file catalogue of the books and many of the document

Subjects

Archives

Source: Cornucopia

Date: Not known, but before 2015

Licence: CC BY-NC

The origin of the collections can be traced back through the history of the Mill. The Mill was built around 1815 on the River Test in Whitchurch, Hampshire. It has produced silk yarn since 1817 and has been weaving silk cloth since the 1830s. As a working museum is still weaves silk cloth on machinery installed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Through its history the Mill has had several owners, most notably James Hide, who ran it from 1886 until his death in 1955. During his tenure the Mill wove silk linings for the trademark raincoats designed by his brother-in-law Thomas Burberry of Basingstoke. The last commercial owners were Ede and Ravenscroft, makers of academic and legal gowns, who closed the Mill in 1985, by which time the machinery was obsolete and no longer commercially viable, and the building was in poor condition.

At this time Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust (HBPT) stepped in to rescue it as a rare example of a Georgian textile mill, unique in the south of England. After repairs the Mill was opened to the public as a museum in 1990 under the management of Whitchurch Silk Mill Trust.

The Buildings and Grounds, Historic Silk Production Collection and Historic Production Archive are owned by Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust. Whitchurch Silk Mill Trust manages the collections on behalf of HBPT. The Management arrangements are set out in the terms of the lease agreement between the two organisations.

[Clause 1.2] “Demised Premises” means all that piece or parcel of land situate at Whitchurch in Hampshire shown edge red on the Plan together with the silk mill and other buildings standing on such land at any time during the Term (but no including any part of the property shown coloured blue on the Plan (comprising inter alia the mill stream) or any fishing rights therein and the installations looms fixtures and fittings now in and belonging to the said land and buildings specified in the First Schedule hereto”

A total of 12 looms and other historic machinery remain in their original positions in the Mill and are still set up to work and weave the silk. It is a charitable objective of WSMT to weave silk, in so doing preserving the machinery and skills to operate them and delighting visitors. The ‘Production Archive – Accessioned collection’ embodies, represents and evidences weaving at the Mill since 1990, and includes bespoke work for private and commercial clients and our own designs. The ‘General Collection – Accessioned collection’ includes items made from our silk cloth, which can include artworks and banners, in addition to photographs and items purchased or donated to WSMT.

Source: Collection development policy

Date: 2024

Licence: CC BY-NC

There are five collections in the management of WSMT, which are divided into two categories of ownership: those which form part of the WSMT permanent accessioned collection and those which are cared for by Whitchurch Silk Mill Trust on behalf of HBPT.

1. The Buildings and Grounds – On loan

These are owned by HBPT and maintained by WSMT in accordance with the terms of the lease agreement between the two organisations.  The Mill itself is a Grade II* Listed Building dating from 1815.

2. Historic Silk Production – On loan

The production machinery is predominantly Victorian and covers all processes in the production of woven silk – from substantial items such as looms to smaller items such as bobbins and baskets.  These are all owned by HBPT and maintained and operated by WSMT in accordance with the terms of the lease agreement between the two organisations:

3. Historic Production Archive (up to 1989) – On loan

This consists of the written records and samples relating to the silk produced at the Mill during its working life (up to 1989).  The archive belongs to HBPT and forms a critical component of the historic collections, providing much of the underpinning context. This collection contains about 2000 objects.

4. Production Archive – Accessioned collection

This consists of the written records and samples relating to the silk produced at the Mill during its working life since 1989.  The archive belongs to WSMT and forms a critical component of the collections, providing much of the underpinning context. This collection currently contains about 1000 objects.

5. General Collection – Accessioned collection

This consists of items relating to all aspects of the Mill’s history and the historic production of silk and other textiles, not included in the four core collections.  These objects belong to WSMT and are held in order to support the charitable objectives of the Trust.  The collection includes items made at the Mill, artwork made with Whitchurch silk, photographs, related to historic textile production and other similar items. This collection currently contains about 9,000 objects.

Source: Collection development policy

Date: 2024

Licence: CC BY-NC

The Whithorn Trust was founded to manage the archaeological excavations at Whithorn which began in 1986, after trial trenches in 1984 revealed deposits of great significance, relating to Whithorn’s monastic past. These excavations followed a century of investigation by archaeologists, from the 1880’s onwards, resulting in a large collection of archaeological artefacts being discovered. The excavations from 1986 to 1991 were supported primarily by Dumfries and Galloway Regional Council and secondly by Wigtown District Council, as well as by private gifts and charitable donations. As a result, the collection of artefacts was owned by the Regional Council and now by its successor authority, Dumfries and Galloway Council, although the intention was always to have a permanent museum displaying this collection on the site at Whithorn itself. The Visitor Centre, a 1901 commercial building which was radically reconstructed in 1989 and which is now operated by the Whithorn Trust, has a permanent exhibition which displays the prime artefacts unearthed by archaeologists. A significant proportion of the collection remains in Stranraer Museum stores, where its cataloguing and care is carried out by Whithorn Trust staff, supported by Dumfries and Galloway Museums Service staff. In addition, the Whithorn Trust operates in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland, which owns the Bruce Street museum, where the internationally important collection of early mediaeval carved stones, found at Whithorn in the 1880’s, is displayed. This museum is jointly staffed by the Whithorn Trust and HES personnel. The HES Bruce Street museum is located in a traditional Galloway cottage purchased by the Marquess of Bute to house the stones in the 1890’s.

Source: Collection development policy

Date: 2023

Licence: CC BY-NC

The main collection on display in the Whithorn Trust Visitor Centre is owned by Dumfries and Galloway Museums Service.

The collection includes:

• Early Christian, Hiberno-Norse and Medieval artefacts relating to the day-to-day life and industry excavated by the Whithorn Trust between the years 1984-91 from the area of the ecclesiastical settlement at Whithorn.
• Artefacts including carved stones, porphyry and part of an iron heckle from the site of the early church site at Barhobble.

The display in the upper Gallery, entitled “Cold Case Whithorn”, is an exhibition created by selection of items which have not previously been on public display but formed part of the reinvestigation of the collection funded by the Whithorn Trust from 2018-2022.

Items directly belonging to the Whithorn Trust on display in the lower exhibition include models and display items which contribute to the interpretation of the artefacts, such as life-size human models and scale models of buildings on the site. They also include digital items such as commissioned films and animated facial reconstructions.

The other collections on display include:

• Loan of medieval Whithorn Priory stones from Historic Environment Scotland
• Loan of material from NMS, both long term ( replica Kirkmadrine stones, a disc headed cross) and temporary loans each year.

Source: Collection development policy

Date: 2023

Licence: CC BY-NC

Fine Art

The fine art collection is particularly strong on Whitstable ship ‘portraits’ painted by 19th-early 20th century ‘pierhead’ painters and there is a growing collection of contemporary work by local artists and printmakers who have links to the area or whose subject matter is the area.

Maritime

The collections reflect themes such as ship-building, fishing, oyster cultivation and diving. The permanent collection is particularly strong on Whitstable ship ‘portraits’ painted by so-called pierhead painters last century and early this century, which capture the town’s trading links around the globe.

Biology

The collections represent the natural history of the area including the habitats of the seashore and the estuarine mudflats which are of international importance for migrant birds, together with wildlife of the local shoreline.

Transport

A small collection relating in particular to the Canterbury and Whitstable railway.

Geology

The natural history collections include local fossil specimens.

Personalia

Peter Cushing, the actor, lived in Whitstable for 36 years until his death in 1995 and the museum holds a collection of around 50 items of memorabilia.

Archaeology

The museum holds a small collection of around 100 archaeological artefacts.

Social History

A collection of over 5,000 items charting the development of the town.

Photographic

Over 3000 images including “The Douglas West Collection” – a unique photographic record of the town 1920s to the 1970s, containing photographs by Douglas West who lived in Whitstable for over 75 years and was the town photographer, following in the footsteps of his father, Stephen Douglas West. The photographs span 100 years of life in Whitstable and also include copies made by other photgraphers. There are also tape-recorded memories and film.

Archives

The museum holds over 500 items of archive material.

Source: Cornucopia

Date: Not known, but before 2015

Licence: CC BY-NC