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Marvellous Museums

Bristol Babe, Bristol Aero Collection. Bristol Aero Collection 

Located in a World War II hangar on Kemble airfield, the Bristol Aero Collection is dedicated to the preservation and display of products of the Bristol Aeroplane Company and its sister companies.  The Bristol Aeroplane Company was founded in 1910 by Sir George White, a Victorian entrepreneur, whose venture into aeroplane manufacture in Filton, Bristol sprang from his successful tramway and bus companies.

On display are military and civil aircraft ranging from the diminutive Babe of 1919, the cockpit of the “Whispering Giant” Britannia to the Concorde Mock-up of the 1960s and engines from the Pegasus though the Centaurus to the mighty Olympus which powered the Concorde. Road transport starts with the restored Bristol horse-drawn tram, a 1920 Bristol lorry to a 1970s Bristol double-decker bus in which historic aviation videos can be viewed. The world’s first twin rotor twin engined helicopter is displayed together with a single rotor Sycamore.  Also on display are Bloodhound air defence missiles, Polaris/Chevaline and many air to air, air to ground and ground to air missiles.  Space activity is shown with a mock-up of the Giotto and Envisat spacecraft.

Open Easter weekend and then Sundays and Mondays until end October.  Open Mondays all year except Christmas and New Year. Last entry 3:30pm.

Corsham Area Heritage Centre
Discover how wool was dyed and woven into cloth; how the mining of Bath Stone turned into a secret underground city. Changing exhibitions cover the heritage and wealth of Corsham.

Lacock Abbey, Village and Fox Talbot Museum
Lose yourself for a day in the beautiful village of Lacock. With its picturesque streets, fascinating Abbey and museum there is something for everyone .Take part in a variety of events and activities, or simply spend time with friends in a beautiful and interesting place.

Lady Margaret Hungerford Almshouses and Schoolroom
Most attractive and unique complex of 17th Century Almshouses, Schoolroom, Warden's House and Stables. Schoolroom with original 17th Century furniture and Exhibition Room. Beautifully restored, it maintains many original features.

The Merchant's House, Marlborough
The house of Thomas Bayly, a prosperous silk mercer, was rebuilt following the great fire of Marlborough in 1653. A fine timber and brick building was constructed, its interior panelled, brilliant with wall paintings and with a commanding oak staircase. The conservation continues and makes The Merchant's House a special and unusual visitor attraction.

The Rifles (Berkshire and Wiltshire) MuseumThe Rifles (Berkshire and Wiltshire) Museum
The Rifles (Berkshire and Wiltshire) Museum has, new for this year a Second World War Anderson or Air Raid Shelter, complete with a vegetable garden! The shelter is an orignal and has been carefully put back together for visitors to our museum to experience what it was like for families to have to take shelter from air raid bombs. We also offer a childrens quiz and by pre-booking we can arrange for children, and adults too, to try on some of our uniforms which date from Victorian times up until the Second World War.

Salisbury and South Wiltshire MuseumSalisbury and South Wiltshire Museum 
Here at the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum we have a fun packed range of family friendly events. History is brought to life through creative activities, science workshops, tours and trails for all the family to enjoy together. Check our website for Under Five’s Fridays, Family Saturdays and many other great events.

 

Royal Signals Museum
Ever wondered how secret agents were trained in WW2? What was life like as a secret agent with the SOE in France and what equipment did you have to help you escape if you were caught? Ever wanted to have a go at sending Morse Code messages? Discover all the answers at this dynamic, interactive museum.

 

Shaftesbury MuseumShaftesbury’s Museums
We have a 'Treasure Trail' for children,which can be used along with the Children's Audio Guide. When the trail is completed, a special 'St. Peter the Priest' certificate is awarded. There are a selection of costumes to dress up in, magnetized puzzles to piece together, and wooden blocks that you can build the Abbey with. We also have a range of family-friendly events on throughout the season.

 

Trowbridge Museum
Trowbridge Museum regularly holds innovative and high quality temporary exhibitions on a variety of themes. We also offer a wide range of children’s holiday activities and a Saturday Club. Our Education Service offers workshops for KS1 and KS2, Special Educational Needs groups and pre-school - just contact our Education Officer for advice.

Whitchurch Silk MillWhitchurch Silk Mill
Whitchurch Silk Mill is the oldest working silk museum in Britain, keeping alive silk weaving skills on Victorian machinery. There is a varied programme of exhibitions, as well as activities for adults and children - please see our website for details. You can even round off your visit by having a go at hand weaving. Picnickers welcome!

 

 

Wiltshire Heritage Museum
Be inspired by the many beautiful objects on display, including the best Bronze Age archaeology collections in Britain, and learn about the pioneers of archaeology who made these important discoveries. The Museum
organises a variety of popular events and exhibitions, while the Library documents the history of Wiltshire through manuscripts, maps, newspapers and more.

Wiltshire's Museums
Wiltshire is rightly famous for its archaeology and the collections at Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum and Wiltshire Heritage Museum, Devizes are recognised internationally for their importance. But what of those things left behind by less ancient residents? Perhaps you’re tracing your family tree and have discovered that you have a Wiltshire ancestor. Once you’ve visited the History Centre in Chippenham, where do you go
to find out what life was like for your family member? Wiltshire’s museums hold fantastic collections relating to life and work in the county. Here we explore just a few of the industries which gave Wiltshire people work over the centuries…

Agricultural Ancestors
Being a mostly rural county it will be no surprise if you discover that your Wiltshire ancestors worked in farming.
Cheese, bacon and corn were big business in Wiltshire from the 1700s onwards. With museums in many of
the agricultural communities across the county why not call in to find out more and see some of the tools of the
trade?

Chippenham Museum & Heritage Centre. Tells the story of the town from prehistoric times and holds objects
relating to the dairy industry which was a major employer in Chippenham and across the north of the county.

Market Lavington, on the edge of Salisbury Plain, provided some of the support industries necessary to
farmers. The village museum has displays on the agricultural engineering industry which developed in the late
1800s. The village was also home to the Smith family of dew-pond makers, a skilled craft enabling cattle to be
watered on the dry Wiltshire downs. 

The challenge of supplying water to remote farms is a story also told at Pewsey Heritage Centre, which is
housed in a former agricultural engineers’ foundry. The centre is packed with the fascinating tools, machinery and items once used by the farming communities of the Pewsey Vale.

In picturesque Castle Combe, produce was sold from the Market Cross with the surrounding hills providing good ground for rearing sheep. Visit on a Sunday afternoon to discover more at the small village museum.

Barley and Beer
The combination of a ready supply of water and barley has made Wiltshire a prime location for the production of
malt and beer.

Warminster Dewey Museum has items relating to malting and to Dr Edwin Beaven, pioneer of modern barley
production. From 1824 to 2000, Ushers were brewing beer in Trowbridge. Although the name lives on, the beer is now brewed elsewhere. 

Visit Trowbridge Museum to uncover the history of this famous Wiltshire brand.

Like many smaller communities Market Lavington had its own brewer, James Neate, well into the 20th century. The museum has a collection of items relating to his business.

The Warp and Weft of Wiltshire Past
If you’ve discovered your family tree contains a Fuller, a Slubber or even a Pannifex, you have an ancestor who
worked in the textile industry, making and using wool, silk or linen in a variety of ways.

At Athelstan Museum, Malmesbury, you can find out how the town became a centre of lace-making in the 1800s. You can also explore its fine collection of local lace and bobbins.

Cricklade Museum is home to a collection from Ockwell Brothers who made gloves in the town from the
1880s until 1994.

Warminster had dyers of cloth living there as early as the 1300s but the textile industry really took off in the
1500s. Sadly, the industrial revolution and its reliance on steam power left Warminster behind and the trade died out by 1848. The Warminster Dewey Museum is the place to find out more.

Several of the larger towns in Wiltshire had mills for making cloth from wool or silk. A visit to Chippenham Museum or Bradford-on-Avon Museum will show you how the wool industry became dominant and shaped the way our towns look. 

At Trowbridge Museum you can see original machinery from local wool mills. You might also get to see
some of the machines in action.

Meanwhile at Mere Museum, you can discover the work that went into making silk fabrics.

You can find out more about these museums and others in Wiltshire at www.wiltshiretreasures.org. To find out
what’s on at the History Centre go to www.wshc.eu