Collection: Scolton Manor Park

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  The collections of Scolton Manor Park have been built up under various former authorities within the general framework of reflecting the history and culture of Pembrokeshire.

  The collection began in the mid-1950s; however a site for the County Museum was not established until 1970. Until 1996 the County Museum was based in Haverfordwest in the old County Gaol, with a smaller collection based at Scolton Manor from 1974. In 1996, the then Dyfed County Council was divided into three separate councils and the new Pembrokeshire County Council decided it was not possible to keep two separate museum sites. The County Collection was then transferred to its current location at Scolton Manor.

  From 1996 to 2012 the County Collection was displayed or stored in three buildings on the Scolton Manor site – the Manor House displayed social history and furniture relating to the Victorian heyday of the house, with the bulk of the County Collection in storage in the Attics; the agricultural and industrial collections were on display in the Exhibition Hall; and the estate trades were on display in the Stable Block complex.

  From 2012 the Exhibition Hall was emptied and demolished, and a new building, located elsewhere on the site and designated as the Agricultural Viewing Barn, was used to accommodate the bulk of the agricultural collection and some of the industrial collection. Also in 2012, the Carpenter’s Workshop display in the Stable Block complex was converted into a Centre for the Pembrokeshire Beekeeping Association and the carpentry collection was put into storage.

  In 2018 a new suite of three galleries was developed on the first floor of the Manor House, which will eventually house the internationally renowned Ripley Dolls House and Toy Collection, which has been bequeathed to Scolton Manor Park by the current owner. The galleries currently display collections of toys and games from the core museum collections, items on loan and new museum collections.

  In 2019 a new off-site storage facility was developed, and the reserve collection and the fine art collection were transferred for storage there. Some parts of the agricultural and industrial collections were also transferred for storage and the Viewing Barn was re-designated as a multi-use space for a variety of activities, including exhibitions. The new storage facility is shared with other PCC departments and is not solely for the storage of museum artefacts.

  In the early years of the museum’s existence there was no formal acquisition policy and the process of collecting focussed on building up a collection large enough to create an official museum for the county of Pembrokeshire. This informal approach to collecting continued for many years until a formal policy was finally adopted in 1992. Despite this approach a number of significant objects were added to the collection over the years.

  The industrial collection includes the “Margaret” locomotive acquired in 1974 and the Gwalia Stores tin shop acquired in 2001 (re-erected in the grounds in 2022). The costume collection includes the Royston-Brown collection acquired between 1969 and 1980; the Yvonne Fox “Jemima Nicholas” costume collection and archive acquired in 2010; a 1920s and 1930s Jazz Age collection mostly acquired in 1978 and 1983, with more recent additions; and a growing wedding dress collection including a dress created by Pembrokeshire textile artist Cecily Jellyman, acquired in 2016. The photographic collection includes the Tom Mathias glass plate negative collection acquired in 2002 and the Hywel Davies postcard collection acquired in 2004. The fine art collection includes the Edgar Thomas oil painting collection acquired in 1955, the Paynter watercolour collection acquired in the 1970s, the Ray Howard Jones painting collection acquired between the 1970s and the 1990s and the “Tenby Fisherwoman” oil painting by William Powell Frith acquired in 1986. The furniture collection includes a secretaire made by William Owen and a grand piano acquired in 1972, a Broadwood box piano acquired in 1987, a suite of Chippendale-style dining chairs acquired in 1990 (all furniture original to the house), an Arts and Crafts desk acquired in 1975, a half-tester bed from Bush House acquired in 1990 and a pew from Slebech Church acquired in 1994. In 2016 a large collection of assorted objects connected to Scolton House and the Higgon family were placed on long loan by the Marsh family. This collection includes original furnishings, personal objects, photographs and archival documents. This loan was renewable every 5 years but in March 2023 the collection was permanently donated to Scolton Manor Park as being the most suitable home for the collection.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: Not known

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  The main collections of the museum are located at Scolton Manor Park (County Museum). They are varied and comprise archaeology, geology, natural history, fine and decorative arts, social history, costume, printed material, ephemera and photographs. The historic building known as Scolton Manor is also part of the museum collection.

  The archaeology collection includes material from Pembrokeshire, parts of Wales and other areas of the British Isles. The collection covers the period from the Upper Palaeolithic to medieval times, and includes considerable material excavated from Pembrokeshire sites, including the Neolithic site at Clegyr Boia, St. David’s and the Iron Age settlements of Walesland Rath and Castell Henllys. Non-Pembrokeshire material currently in the collection is of considerable interest for comparative and educational uses; however, additions do not need made to this area.

  The natural history and geology collections consist of local zoological and geological specimens. In addition, there is some exotic material and a very limited number of botanical holdings. The zoological material consists mainly of cased local species of birds and mammals. A number of specimens have a direct link to the history of Scolton Manor itself and the Higgon family, and add to the Victorian atmosphere of the display rooms.

  The numismatic collection of coins, medals, medallions, tokens and notes is broad based and includes some foreign material and covers the period from Roman to the present day, albeit with significant gaps. The tokens and notes are generally of local origin.

  The fine art and decorative arts collections include oil paintings, drawings, water-colours, prints, sculpture, maps, glass, ceramics, furniture, jewellery and personal ornaments. The fine art collection is broad based with a strong Pembrokeshire bias. The works reflects two centuries of artistic endeavour in the county, by both local and visiting artists. There are several notable collections including the Paynter, E.H. Thomas and the Ray Howard Jones collections. There is a large 19^th century element of prints, portraits, landscapes and genre paintings, the most important being the “Tenby Fisherwoman” by W. P. Frith. The majority of this collection is now stored off-site.

  The collection of ceramics includes examples of local, Welsh and material from the rest of the British Isles.

  The furniture collection includes some fine examples of locally produced historic items. Most of the finer pieces are on display in the Victorian Manor House. They include: the secretaire made by William Owen, the Arts & Crafts desk from 1892, the suite of Chippendale-style dining chairs, a 17^th century sideboard, a 16^th century oak chair, the half-tester bed from Bush House, the pew from Slebech church, the box piano, the grand piano, and a hallstand from Sealyham. In addition there is also a small collection of cottage furniture including settles, dressers, chairs, cupboards, beds, etc. Some of the furniture on display in the showrooms is on long-term loan from St. Fagans National History Museum, in order to enhance the room settings; however, as the furniture collection develops the loaned items will be returned.

  A large proportion of Scolton Manor Park’s collection falls into the category of social history. This category includes social, educational, domestic, administrative, commercial, craft, agricultural, maritime and technical history material, 95% of which dates from the 19^th and 20^th centuries. Material includes collections of agricultural tools and machinery (there is a good representative sample of most tools/equipment used on Pembrokeshire’s farms and rural industrial crafts in the 19^th and 20^th centuries); a large collection of dairying artefacts; tools and materials associated with rural trades including carpentry & wheelwrighting, blacksmithing, coopering, saddlery, tinsmithing, shoemaking and clog making; fishing and maritime items (good coracle examples and an original Cleddau fishing boat); transport items (including a good railway collection, the “Margaret” locomotive and the complete Sarnau signal box); a large bottle collection and a large domestic collection including laundry, kitchen and cooking artefacts. There is a substantial trade and industry collection including the Gwalia Stores tin shop from Tufton, and a range of material from the Llewellin Churnworks, Haverfordwest; the brickworks from Goodwick and the pop works from Milford Haven. This category grows faster than any other and places a considerable demand upon resources because of the sheer volume and size of the material. The Neville Pugh trade and transport collection, including rare metal signage and collectable model railway material, was placed on loan to the museum in 2019. This collection could also become a permanent donation in time.

  The costume and textile collection dates almost entirely from the mid 19^th century to the present day and features a full collection of clothing and accessories. Notable collections include the Royston-Brown collection, the Yvonne Fox collection and the Jazz Age collection. Other smaller collections are of antique lace, samplers and wedding dresses. The collection also includes carpets, household linen and a small collection of quilts.

  The military collection covers the period 1790-1950 and includes a small number of French Revolutionary War items; a small amount of Napoleonic items; a substantial Victorian and Edwardian collection; and an excellent World War II collection. Collections comprise uniforms, some equipment, some firearms and miscellaneous items such as flags, etc. In addition, the museum also administers the Pembroke Yeomanry Historical Trust collection and photographic archive.

  Scolton Manor Park has a significant collection of photographs. The collection documents the people, places, trade & industry, transport, agriculture, etc. of Pembrokeshire. Specific collections include the glass plate negative collection of Tom Mathias which illustrates life in North Pembrokeshire late 19^th and early 20^th centuries and the Hywel Davies postcard collection which features over 15,000 individual items. As well as objects in their own right, they are also important social history documents.

  The Higgon Marsh Collection, initially on loan to Scolton Manor Park and now a permanent gift, is a significant addition to the history of the house. It includes original furnishings and fittings; personal objects including jewellery; family silver; family portraits and other artworks; costume and textiles; a large collection of photographs; and a diverse archival collection, which includes personal family letters, diaries and ephemera. A diverse number of objects have been placed on display in the rooms, giving a personal atmosphere to the house. Other objects have featured in special exhibitions. The gift of this collection continues a tradition of keeping in close contact with the descendants of the Higgon family and assists in telling the story of the house and the family.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date:

  Licence: CC BY-NC