Sunday 28 July 2013

THE CHARM OF SMALL MUSEUMS

The Shell Museum, Glandford, Norfolk.
(They don't come much more charming than this.)

Deep in the Glaven Valley, North Norfolk is the tiny Shell Museum built in 1915 by eccentric local landowner and ardent philanthropist Sir Alfred Jodrell. He knew little about conchology but, with his sisters, he created a brick and flint Cabinet of Curiosities to house his collection of shells and objects made from shells.



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Danson House, Bexleyheath, South East London. 

This is a small but perfectly formed Palladian building dating from the 1760s and situated near William Morris's Red House. The ground floor rooms have been restored to their original Italianate splendour, while the upper floor amazes with its brilliant contemporary art exhibitions.





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Cromer Museum, North Norfolk.

We came to Cromer in search of Olive Edis Galsworthy, 1876 - 1955, who had a photographic studio in nearby Sheringham in the 1910s and who took autochrome photographs - portraits and local scenes. Autochromes are early colour photographs, the technique having been patented by the French Lumiere brothers in 1903. They have a muted, dreamy beauty. Cromer Museum has a collection of Edis's photographs but, sadly, few were on public view when we visited. Perhaps we should have asked to see more...




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Brighton Museum & Art Gallery.

This is a vibrant museum we'd not previously heard about. We discovered it hiding behind Max Miller, on the way to the more famous Pavilion. Its clever curators have managed to keep it full to the brim with collections of pottery and archeological and zoological specimens, as well as mementoes of Brighton life, at a time when many larger museums seem to have thinned out their displays and packed away the exhibits. (Some say that dumbing down is a condition of government funding.)
                                               




Mod or Rocker?

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Saffron Walden,
with its pretty pargetting, is home to one of the oldest museums in Britain. It's doors first opened in 1835 and it retains the higgledy-piggledy charm of the museums of our childhood. With traditional displays and plenty of local interest, it also houses a collection of rare early 19th century tribal clothing and artifacts. Right up my street!





                                                   
We still have these modest treasure houses at the moment, many of them as full of interest as their larger, more well-known cousins. In every town and in many villages they are waiting to inspire you. Open your eyes and minds - and occasionally your purses - quickly, before they disappear.

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24 comments:

  1. We are indeed fortunate to have so many small eclectic museums in this country.
    I do like a bit of Pargetting and Saffron Walden has some great examples.
    I thought that I knew my pots but the Castle Hedingham Pottery is new to me.

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    1. We find pieces of this on our travels, it's style could be called a pastiche of much earlier wares but it has a quirky charm.

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  2. Thank you for another great post Nilly. So cross I didn't see the SW museum when I was in that area last year. It looks wonderful. x

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    1. SW is a good half-way stop for us when travelling South - next time we'll try to see the Fry Art Gallery there. It's a bit tricky as it doesn't open until 2pm.

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  3. small museums are lovely and quite special aren't they?
    We're lucky enough to have my two all time faves- the Russell Coates Art Gallery & Museum in Bournemouth and The Priests House Museum here in Wimborne. . .oh and the Blandford Fashion Museum in Blandford. . .not only do they all have great exhibits and perfect light, but they all do fab tea and cakes!!

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    1. This proves my point! I've NEVER heard of those but they are on my list now.

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  4. Nilly, thanks for your tour of the small museums, I really must get myself out and about a bit more. That shell collection is beautiful. I doubt anyone today would even think of starting a collection like that. I'm very grateful that other kind folk have preserved all this history.

    Jean xx

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    1. Speaking as someone "in the trade" I can reassure you that there are still plenty of obsessive collectors of all sorts of things around - but whether the number of small museums will grow is another matter.

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  5. What a great post....thanks for sharing your adventure! I love the shell museum, the building itself is wonderful and that's before even going inside.
    you are right, we all need to help support these small museums so that we can be assured of their continued existance.

    And those old beaded moccasins.....yes please!!!!!!!

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    1. Me too - I love any antique art or craft where the hand of the maker can be touched!

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  6. Thank you nilly for a really interesting tour, you're right, I don't think a lot of us realise there are so many small museums we can visit, probably as they can't afford to advertise as much and also because we just don't keep our eyes open. x

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    1. That's my message - "Open your eyes and LOOK!"
      I'm sure you agree - your mood boards are amazing.

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  7. Another very interesting post. I do love a small museum, sometimes they have the most interesting travelling exhibitions too. The shell museum is drawing me in, I do love a shell! Thanks for sharing your knowledge nilly and the images of you are getting more revealing (if you get my meaning)! Jayne x

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    1. I must find out more about museums in the North East - there's a glass museum in Sunderland I believe, and there must be others.

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  8. ~ Ooh I LOVE the shell museum, Nilly! Patrcik has a 'thing' for visiting museums on our travels...I always wonder if like the movie, they come alive after hours...hehe! Hugs Maria x

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    1. Don't know about that, but when I was little I thought my dolls came alive the minute I dropped off to sleep!

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  9. Utterly delightful as ever, Nilly. I too am rather fond of shelly things and so love that shell museum - but the others are also so fascinating! Thank you for sharing - gosh, you are giving me quite a visiting list for when we eventually make a trip back to Blighty!
    Axxx

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    1. Sounds as if you are having such a great time in Spain though. I think it will be family that draws you back "home", not our fusty old museums!

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  10. What a delightful collection of museums....I know what you mean about "museums from our childhood" with their traditional displays. Nowadays it is very much geared up for interactive displays, which more often than not, are broken from over zealous turning of handles or pressing of buttons.
    Julie x

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    1. Yes - and I hate it when they thin out the exhibits. I think people, even little ones, love to see lots of items so they can pick out the things that intrigue them - and we should know!

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  11. Nilly, in answer to your question about moving pictures... that will be 'gifs' - if you do want a 'how to do it' just let me know, I did a very simple 'how to do it ' for putting videos on for the faerie factory.
    I'm certainly not a computer wizard but by trial and error I found out how to do it so if I can help, no problem.

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    1. I will remember this - when I've got over the shock of my new Windows 8 PC. It doesn't seem quite as user-friendly as my older version and is making me curse!

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  12. I haven't been to any of these museums and your post fires my intention to explore other parts of the country. I enjoy the particular qualities of small, local museums, so often created with great enthusiasm and love. Ahh, the delights of shell foraging!

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    1. It is always worth looking as many are wonderful - talking of sea shells, maritime museums are great too. I love the ones in Deal & Ramsgate - and, of course, Hull's is brilliant. Which reminds me - don't miss the Wilberforce House Museum there...
      I can't stop!

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