Collection: Axminster Heritage Centre

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  Axminster Museum was opened in 1982 and was housed in the old courthouse. This museum built up a collection to tell the story of Axminster and the surrounding villages. The Collection was mainly developed by donations from local residents. Run by a dedicated team of volunteers they gained Accreditation for the museum in 1996.

  In 2002 a group of local Axminster carpet enthusiasts set up a group to plan for the 250th anniversary of the first Axminster carpet in 2005. The events were a success and it was suggested to them that they set up a museum dedicated to the Axminster Carpet story. In 2006 Axminster Heritage Ltd was formed and in 2012 they were successful in purchasing part of the second phase of the Georgian carpet factory. However, by this time it was clear a museum just of Axminster Carpets was going to be a bit niche and Axminster probably couldn’t maintain 2 museums.

  Discussions were held between Axminster Heritage Ltd and Axminster Museum and in 2015 the collection of Axminster Museum was transferred to Axminster Heritage Ltd. The transfer was agreed because the old carpet factory offered a much better space for exhibition development, storeroom development and as the museum would be on the ground floor it could be made fully accessible. Some of the former Trustees of the Axminster Museum became Trustees of Axminster Heritage Ltd, and many of the volunteers transferred over to carry on roles at Axminster Heritage Ltd.

  Since 2015 Axminster Heritage Limited has taken on the role for collecting artifacts and archives that tell the story of Axminster and the surrounding areas, but does declare one of its specialist interests is Axminster carpets. Axminster Heritage Ltd was able to gain both a Georgian Loom and a 1937 Crabtree carpet loom to illustrate the two periods of Axminster carpet manufacture in the town, as well as extend the general collections.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2016

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  The geographical area to which the collections relate is the parish of Axminster and the surrounding parishes of Musbury, Shute, Membury, Kilmington, Dalwood, Stockland, All Saints, Chardstock and Uplyme, including villages of Umborne and Whitford.

  Axminster Carpets – this is a collection of original Axminster carpets, including an original loom. Future priorities are to increase the number of original carpets and become a base for a national collection, setting up a data base for all known Axminster carpets around the world. It features an original painting of Thomas Whitty, the creator of Axminster carpet industry and will include a small collection of hand spinning and weaving looms. Future priorities are to collect and develop a full range of linked equipment.

  Decorative Art – this is a small collection including cider mugs, glass bottles, ceramic receptacles, stone and furniture ,including a grandfather clock made in Axminster by J.Hawkins c 1795.Some of this has been photographed and catalogued.

  Costume and Textiles– this is a small collection, including accessories, from mid-Victorian times to the 1930’s. It includes domestic, agricultural and military items. Of particular note is christening gloves believed to be the first Duke of Marlborough’s. This all needs conservation checks and repacking in 2016.

  Numismatics – this contains military medals, commemorative medals and coins. Of particular interest is the collection of agricultural medals.

  Geology – this mainly relates to the Victorian collection of Dr. Connybear who was born in Axminster.

  Archaeology – this is a small collection ranging from information on Cloakham circles, the Dissolution of Newnham Abbey and Roman finds at Wick .

  Photographs – including prints, plates and negatives of local views, people and activities. It includes local companies such as Shands and Axminster Carpets, as well as the Cattle Market and local social events and sporting events. This has been largely catalogued. Also included is a library of local books from Victorian times.Priority areas are future storage and conservation and the completion of digital copies, some of which have been done.

  Archive – this is a medium collection relating to local families, commercial firms, local organisations, newspapers, broadsheets, programmes, paper souvenirs, and other ephemera. Also included are documents from Axminster Carpets, Shands and Dawkins. These date from c 1700 and future rationalisation will be needed.

  Agriculture and Rural life – this is a medium collection of objects relating to various aspects of rural life including wine and cider jars. There is also a small collection of advertising signs relating to local businesses. Most items are catalogued but some rationalisation is needed owing to the condition of some of the items.

  Social History – this includes ALL the other material that does not fit into the other categories eg the material relating to Thomas Wakely who created the Lancet. There is also a good selection of social history books relating to Axminster. This collection will require rationalisation with some items transferring to the Handling collection.

  The Handling collection – the trust owns a handling collection which consists of some real and some replica artefacts. Some have been donated as handling items and transferred from main collections. This is a priority for development over the next few years, particularly in terms of rationalising the social history collections and transferring them for handling purposes. Items selected will generally either be duplicates of other items or not from the core collection.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2016

  Licence: CC BY-NC