Collection: John Moore Museum

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  The idea for the creation of the John Moore Museum dates back to 1967, the year the Gloucestershire writer John Moore died and also when the restoration of the late-medieval terrace which houses the museum began. The museum was not officially opened until 1980, although the Merchant’s House (which houses only replica items) could be visited by the public from 1973 onwards. Originally, the museum did not have its own collections, being reliant on loans objects from the locally significant Holland-Martin Collection of historic agricultural implements. However, from 1988 and the appointment as curator of Dr Robert King, the museum set about a policy of collecting its own natural history, social history and John Moore related objects and of returning items borrowed from the Holland-Martin Collection; the latter were finally all returned.

  Today the museum continues collecting in these areas. Since 2010, and following a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, we have developed the Merchant’s House as a heritage site where people may learn about the life of the Tudor merchant class.

  The incorporation, from April 2015, of the Old Baptist Chapel (OBC) into the museum’s management portfolio allows us to interpret the architectural and social history of another originally 15th century building and enables us to diversify our heritage product. It also provides extra facilities and increased revenue generation potential through education workshop and events space, plus events hire.

  In 2003, John Moore’s widow, Lucile Bell, died and left the museum’s governing body a substantial donation with the stipulation that it be ring fenced for museum related projects.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2024

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  Natural History

  Taxidermy specimens of native British wildlife, primarily mammals and birds which are representative of Gloucestershire Fauna.

  Geology

  Rocks and minerals that are representative of the geology of Gloucestershire and parts of surrounding counties.

  Social History

  Predominantly agricultural implements, representative of the types of tools used on the land in Gloucestershire.

  John Moore

  Items relating to the Gloucestershire writer, principally, but not exclusively, books and articles by or relating to him.

  Archives

  Mainly materials connected to the history of the Abbey Lawn Trust and in particular the built heritage which it preserves and interprets.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2024

  Licence: CC BY-NC