Brampton Museum
Brampton Museum is a family friendly, local history museum and art gallery located in Brampton Park, Newcastle-Under-Lyme.
Hidden in Brampton Park less than half a mile from the town centre lies Newcastle-Under-Lyme’s local history museum featuring over 2000 years of Borough history.
Set in beautiful parkland the Museum and Art Gallery has something for everyone. Alongside their temporary exhibitions programme in their new gallery. They have galleries depicting the rich and diverse history of the area using their amazing collections.
After a nearly 2 year redevelopment project they are opening to the public in stages. At present The Jim Wain Courtyard Gallery and the first floor are open to the public. The remainder of the ground floor (local history galleries) will open in the Spring.
Highlights include the Brampton Street which allows you to take a step back in time as you discover the wares of Mellard’s the ironmongers, the treasures of the pawnbroker’s shop, the fascinating cures of the chemist’s and the gruesome collection of doctor’s surgical instruments.
The toys gallery is a firm favourite with young and old alike with teddies, dolls and games up to 150 years old.
They are a family friendly museum and there is always something interesting for visitors of all ages to see and do.
https://www.newcastle-staffs.gov.uk/museum
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bramptonmuseum
Claymills Victorian Pumping Station
Two miles north of Burton upon Trent, Claymills Victorian Pumping Station is fitted with four beam engines and pumps capable of pumping 12 million gallons (56 million litres) every day. What was pumped was neither sewage now water but industrial effluent from the brewing industry.
From 1885 the pumping station ran continuously up to 1969. From 1969 to 1972 the pumping station was progressively decommissioned as Severn Trent Water, the owners, set up a new integrated sewage and digestion plant on the site, leaving the old pumping station intact, initially as a back-up.
After a period of disuse, a Trust was set up in 1993 to restore and operate the Pumping Station as it would have been run from 1885 for nearly a century. The Trust has no employees and the Pumping Station is run entirely by volunteers.
As a museum, Claymills is unique in that it is a large Victorian integrated industrial installation which operates original steam machinery on the original site, including boilers, beam engines and ancillary engines. The museum has probably the oldest working in situ steam engine and dynamo set in the country.
The museum is open on Thursdays and Saturdays throughout the year for volunteers and visitors, and about 12 times a year the museum is steamed over a weekend – dates on the website.
The museum needs volunteers with all the skills that any museum needs – not just engineering, but administration, front-of-house, site operations, tour guides … you name it, it is needed!
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Museum of Cannock Chase
Museum of Cannock Chase
The award-winning Museum of Cannock Chase is a great day out for the whole family!
Located on the site of the former Valley Colliery, which later became a mining training centre, the museum is the gateway to the Hednesford Hills Nature Reserve and the ideal starting point for a visit to Cannock Chase, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Whether you are interested in local coal mining, want a hands-on experience of the history of toys or fancy reminiscing about Granny’s front room, we’ve got something for everyone. Explore our local area, past and present, and our exhibitions and events programmes means there is always something new to see. There’s also lots for families, including quizzes, interactive exhibits and activities, all year round!
The award-winning Museum of Cannock Chase is a great day out for the whole family!
Located on the site of the former Valley Colliery, which later became a mining training centre, the museum is the gateway to the Hednesford Hills Nature Reserve and the ideal starting point for a visit to Cannock Chase, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Whether you are interested in local coal mining, want a hands-on experience of the history of toys or fancy reminiscing about Granny’s front room, we’ve got something for everyone. Explore our local area, past and present, and our exhibitions and events programmes means there is always something new to see. There’s also lots for families, including quizzes, interactive exhibits and activities, all year round!
Visit their website: www.museumofcannockchase.org
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Twitter: @IhlCannockChase
Facebook: Inspired Cannock Chase
Weston Park
Weston Park
Weston Park was gifted to the nation in 1986 by the present and current Earl of Bradford and is vested in the Weston Park Foundation, a registered charity. Weston Park is responsible for the preservation and maintenance of the magnificent house, contents and parkland so Weston can be enjoyed by the public for future generations.
They currently have a large team of over 100 volunteers who play a vital role in supporting the Foundation and are always looking for new volunteers to help in a variety of different ways.
Volunteers can become involved in guiding visitors in the House, assisting in the Granary Art Gallery, helping with school parties in the Education Department, gardening or acting as Park Rangers during the public open season. There are also other volunteer opportunities which may arise during the course of the year such as helping with research or working alongside the Conservation Housekeeper within the House.
Visit their website: www.weston-park.com
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Twitter: @Weston_Park
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Erasmus Darwin House
Erasmus Darwin House, Lichfield
Nestled in Lichfield’s idyllic Cathedral Close, Darwin House is an independent, accredited Museum that was once the family home of doctor, inventor and published poet Erasmus Darwin (1731 – 1802). With its unique place in Georgian history Darwin House showcases the breadth of Erasmus Darwin’s interests and achievements which laid the foundations for his grandson and evolutionary biologist Charles.
Ponder in the room where leading Midland industrialists and thinkers were thought to have gathered and shared ground-breaking ideas. Discover the herbs in our tranquil garden used to season Mrs Darwin’s cooking. Learn about the medicinal qualities of plants with which Erasmus treated his patients (often free of charge!). Look through his personal journal to get a sense of his original mind and uncover what inspired his many theories and inventions including a flushing toilet and a speaking machine to name a few. Explore Darwin’s work through interactive exhibits, replica costumes and historical objects. Come as many times as you like, there’s always more to know about the Amazing Dr Darwin.
Open Thursday – Monday from October to March 11am – 4pm, open 7 days a week 11am – 5pm from March to October.
Visit their website: www.erasmusdarwin.org
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Twitter: @erasmusdarwin
