Collection: Malton Museum

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  The original collections of Malton Museum, the result of collecting by the Malton Antiquarian and Natural History Society, date back to the 1880’s, although the geology collection was transferred to Hull Museum in the 1930s. The range and scope of the archaeological core collection was greatly enhanced by Dr John L. Kirk and Mr Philip Corder’s excavations in the Roman Fort in 1927-31, and by further excavations, in 1949- 52 and 1968-70, focussing on the vicus south of the Fort. The Museum holds the total archives – finds, plans, site notebooks and original photographs.

  Material from excavations outside Malton itself, in Norton, Crambeck and Langton, has further increased the importance and scope of the Roman collections.

  The Museum also holds an important collection of prehistoric material, mainly from Ryedale, including flint tools, stone axes and a small amount of pottery.

  About 15% of the material in the collections is owned by the Kirk Trust; this is the material donated by Dr Kirk when the Malton Roman Museum was set up in the 1930s, and is subject to a loan agreement that is renewed every 5 years. Malton Museum effectively houses this collection on behalf of the Kirk Trust. The three trustees of the Kirk Trust are also trustees of Malton Museum.

  In 1987 the collecting policy, which had hitherto been restricted to archaeological material, was expanded to include social history material relating specifically to the Malton and Norton district and their associated industries. In particular, items relating to brewing, racing and retailing have been acquired

  In 2006 a donation from a metal detectorist of legally acquired and fully reported material significantly added to the post-Roman collection.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2019

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  Archaeology

  The museum holds important collections from all periods, from prehistoric to post-medieval items, the most significant being the Roman material.

  Prehistoric

  The Prehistoric material includes pottery, objects in metal and other materials, and a particularly fine group of flint, bronze and stone axes, mainly from the Yorkshire Wolds and North York Moors.

  Roman

  The core collections come from the 1927-31, 1949-52 and 1968-70 excavations in Orchard Field (the site of the Roman fort) and its vicinity, including a large quantity of pottery. This Roman material includes fort and military material, evidence for buildings, domestic and personal items, tools and raw materials from craft and industrial working, and evidence for and the products of the pottery industry. Excavated material from Norton, including the Model Farm excavation, and from Crambeck has created a particularly important Roman pottery and kiln group.

  Medieval and post-medieval

  The small but important collection of medieval and post-medieval items from excavations, metal detecting and chance finds within the towns of Malton and Norton has increased significantly in recent years.

  Social History

  Industries

  Brewing

  The Museum has some material relating to Malton’s family breweries which existed until the 1950s; in particular items from the firms of Russells, Wranghams and Roses.

  Racing

  There are some early race bills for Malton, but the collection mostly consists of material from the owners of local racing stables and includes 20t century race cards for the area and some ‘point to point’ material.

  Shops and Businesses.

  Photographs, other paper material and a few objects relating to shops and businesses in Malton and Norton illustrate the marketing and industrial history of the towns.

  Prints, Drawings and Paintings

  The Museum has a small, but significant group of topographical images including prints and line drawings. The collection has been greatly enhanced by the gift of a small collection including five fine oil-paintings of the Market Place and a watercolour view of the town.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2019

  Licence: CC BY-NC