Collection: Redfern’s Cottage: Museum of Uttoxeter Life

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  The majority of the collections were donated to the Town Council by local people in1987 up until 2010 when the Uttoxeter Heritage Trust took over management and of the building as Redfern’s Cottage, Museum of Uttoxeter Life. Since 2010 the trust have acquired one book belonging to Francis Redfern by purchase and approximately 300 objects through donation or loan. Of these 77 objects have been accessioned.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2015

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  There are approximately 1,500 objects held within the Uttoxeter Collection which has been built up since 1987.

  The collections comprise of:

  • Victorian domestic and household items.
  • Coins and trade tokens 19th century.
  • Victorian costume.
  • Items relating to weights and measures.
  • Medical related items.
  • Local (Uttoxeter and Staffordshire) photographs and ephemera.
  • Agricultural items.
  • Rail and locomotive items.

  The most significant artefacts within the collection include a unique collection of trade tokens from all the towns of Staffordshire and some in Derbyshire too. Many shops and tradesmen minted their own tokens as a way of paying their employees and these were accepted currency during times when precious metals were scarce. The collection dates to the early 17th century and stretches into the late 1800s. Possibly the most important of these is a selection of five trade tokens which were sketched, and presumably owned, by Francis Redfern for inclusion within his book ‘History and Antiquities of Uttoxeter’. These were found by a local solicitor in their safe and donated to the Uttoxeter Heritage Trust in 2014.

  The museum also houses an important collection of photographs from the town and surrounding area. Other key items within the collection include objects relating to the Uttoxeter branch of the Guild of Foresters, the Urban district council’s weights and measures, the local St John Ambulance and many trophies, books and photograph albums from the old grammar girls’ and boys’ schools.

  The majority of the collection is made up of civic and domestic artefacts with a local provenance as well as archaeological finds, including Roman Samian ware pottery which was excavated locally.

  The displays include period room settings of a wartime kitchen, 17th Century kitchen, Victorian bedroom and study. The study acts as an archive store and temporary exhibition space. The other displays include a timeline of exhibits and graphic panels for the history of Uttoxeter, exhibits on the structure of the building, the town’s oldest newspaper, the town’s biggest brewery, Francis Redfern, Mary Howitt, Samuel Johnson, the trade and industries of the town including Bamfords’ agricultural machinery and Elkes confectioners.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2015

  Licence: CC BY-NC