Collection: Helena Thompson Museum

Collection-level records:

• Collection overview (Cornucopia)

  Personalia Collection

  As the museum focuses on the life of Helena Thompson and her family in the 18th and 19th century, collections include associated personal possessions, antiques and curios.

  Subjects

  Personalia

  Agriculture Collection

  Objects connected with the World Ploughing Organisation.

  Subjects

  Agriculture

  Fine Art Collection

  The oil paintings, watercolours and prints mainly feature local topography and people, including Helena Thompson’s family and friends.

  Subjects

  Fine Art

  Social History Collection

  The collections relating to social history number over 5,000 items in total for the three borough museums (including Keswick Museum and Maryport Maritime Museum) and cover a range of domestic and community life subjects spanning the last 300 years in the Borough. Domestic items specifically held at the Helena Thompson Museum include leisure, pastime and sporting activities including material and balls from a local game called ‘Uppies and Downies.’

  Subjects

  Social History

  Costume and Textile Collection

  The museum serves as the main repository of costume within the collection held by Allerdale Borough Council, with objects ranging from the late 18th century to around 1930. Clothing of the middle and upper classes of Workington is typically represented and many items were donated by Helena Thompson. Items include women’s clothing, dolls, babies and children’s clothes, lace and a range of accessories such as hats, parasols, fans and samplers. (See also Keswick Museum for the Flather collection of 1920s-1930s daywear and accessories).

  Subjects

  Costume and Textile

  Archaeology Collection

  Miscellaneous archaeological material of mainly Cumbrian artefacts and generally of Medieval and later periods. Most notable is the Clifton Dish and associated pottery finds of the 18th century.

  Subjects

  Archaeology

  Photographic Collection

  A significant collection of photographs e.g. local trades and industries, personalities and the local area generally.

  Subjects

  Photographic equipment

  Biology Collection

  The natural science collections held at Helena Thompson Museum include those assembled by Victorian naturalists and a collection donated by W. C. Laurie, a local collector. There are mounted bird and mammal specimens from Britain, Australia and Indonesia, in addition to over 1,000 British birds eggs. There is a collection of butterflies and moths from various collectors of 1870-1900 and botanical specimens including the M. Laurie Collection of lichens.

  Subjects

  Biology

  Science and Industry Collection

  Collections include items associated with local trades and industries, most importantly Workington Iron and Steel works, including samples, photographs and models. Commerce is covered through inclusion of items from several local shops. Other industries featured include the Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith Railway and the Keswick Gas, Light and Coke Company.

  Subjects

  Science and Industry

  Decorative and Applied Art Collection

  The decorative art collections include silverware, glass, ceramics and furniture. The silver items include sporting trophies, particularly relating to Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, together with other items such as civic regalia. There are various types of glassware, many with local maritime connections. A representative ceramic collection of different styles and materials also features in the collection, especially 18th-19th century porcelain. Furniture principally relates to the house and includes clocks, chairs and cabinets.

  Subjects

  Decorative and Applied Arts

  Source: Cornucopia

  Date: Not known, but before 2015

  Licence: CC BY-NC