In my last post I promised to tell you about The Old House Museum in Bakewell. We last visited a few years ago and we noticed quite a few changes and much more areas open with the inclusion of a courtyard and outside displays, places to sit and a drinks machine as well as a ramp to enable visitors to see the back of the house. It is all very visitor friendly both inside and out.
According to the information boards the first part of the house was built in the 1530s by the Ralph Gell for his steward Christopher Plant who collected the tithes for the parish of Bakewell. Later in the 16th century the Gell family extended the house and it became a gentleman's residence. Another wing was added in the early 17th century. In the 1770s the house was bought by Sir Richard Arkwright and turned into five cottages for the use of workers at the Lumsden cotton mill, he later added a 6th cottage. Lumsden Mill was Arkwright's third cotton mill. Evidence has been found in the cottages that some of the workers may have cleaned the raw cotton in their homes rather than at the factory premises. The Bakewell and District Historical Society took over the buildings in 1954.
Throughout the museum the displays reflect the different eras that the house was in occupation and the differing work and lifestyles of its inhabitants.
It is a very 'hand on' museum with lots of dressing up boxes, toys for the children to play with and when we visited a find the 'ratty' rat trail. There are outdoor games for children in the courtyard too. The volunteers who help keep the museum open are friendly and helpful and make you feel very welcome.
I'll let the pictures show you what it is like inside.
Here is a link to the museum website if you want to find out more about it
I've just spotted one of the rats in the photo below!
I've just got home from a few days away so I'll be back with tales of our adventures later and I'll try to catch up with your posts and comments over the next few days.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
I love museums but don't get to go too often now, thats why I enjoy your posts.
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame, I always love a museum visit. I'll try to keep visiting and writing about what I find:)
DeleteI like the idea of a 'hands on' museum and that the rooms were set up to reflect the eras and occupations ot its inhabitants. It would have made it come alive for me as I am useless at putting history in context! I hope you had a lovely birthday Rosie. I know it is towards the end of August. Belated Birthday wishes to you. I hope you did something nice to celebrate! x
ReplyDeleteThanks, Simone - it was on Wednesday and we went away for a couple of days:)
DeleteThanks for letting us tour the old house museum with you. One thing I love about some of my trips are visiting older buildings. Williamsburg and Boston were great for me. I'm from the West Coast and don't see too many older buildings.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed visiting with me! I can't imagine what it is like to not see older buildings. You must savour your visits when you do get to see them:)
DeleteWhat a lovely old building. When we were renovating our previous house, even older than the current one, we spent a lot of time researching buildings of this era. The Old House looks like a wonderful example.
ReplyDeleteIt is a reflection of all the ways it has been altered and over the years - some of the walls inside are still wattle and daub. It sounds as if you have lots of knowledge of the differing ways houses were built over the years:)
DeleteLooks like a really interesting place x Jane
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jane - it is quite fascinating:)
DeleteI love to soak up the atmosphere of these old houses, but I do find the life-size models a bit scarey. What a wimp. Good stuff Rosie.
ReplyDeleteThere were one or two models around the house - the one in the privy made me jump when I peered through the hole in the door:)
DeleteI enjoyed the tour, very interesting.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it, Lousie. There is more than I've shown but a lot of my photos suffered from light and reflections - also from trying to avoid catching people in them:)
DeleteIt's a few years since I was last in the museum, think I might have to pay it another visit, looks as though it's improved a lot.
ReplyDeleteIt has altered a lot since our last visit and there seems to be more areas open and more things for children to do, too:)
DeleteIt looks a fascinating place; both the building and the museum are interesting. It is good to see local history come alive.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy the smaller museums as they interpret the everyday life of the bulding itself or the town and area they are in - I find it fascinating to learn how people lived and worked in times gone by:)
DeleteThis museum is definitely on my wishlist especially knowing that there are lots of hands-on features for the family and plenty of information boards inside and outside. Glad you had a lovely birthday and time away.
ReplyDeleteThey had lots of games for children in the courtyard and the rat trail plus dressing up clothes for all ages during the school holidays:)
DeleteThis looks so interesting Rosie and lovely photos too. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletePatricia x
It is a super place, glad you enjoyed the photos:)
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