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Our museum contains a number of galleries and themed
displays.
Archaeology Gallery
This gallery is situated on the first floor and shows local
archaeological material dating from the Ice Age to the Medieval
period. Iron Age material from local hillforts and Roman remains
are featured. In the Mining section you can see tools and other
devices used by people working in the mines of Mendip.
The Balcony
Here are commemorative medals, jewellery, phographic equipment
and local ceramics, including Elton Ware and Fishley Holland
Pottery from Clevedon and Wesuma Ware from Weston.
Upper Gallery
This upstairs gallery is in the oldest part of the building. It
displays old shop goods, laundry equipment, and a range of garden
wares made at the Royal Potteries, Weston-super-Mare.
Chemist Shop
This displays the contents of a late 19th century local chemist
shop, Ernest Widgery's, of West Street, Weston-super-Mare. On
display are bottles, signs, scales, prescription books and other
pharmaceutical material.
Clara's Cottage
This cottage, built in 1864, is adjacent to the museum. Three of
the rooms - the Parlour, Kitchen and Bedroom - are displayed as
they would have been when Clara Payne lived there with her husband
Robert and four children in 1900. Clara took in paying guests to
help pay the bills. Every year, throughout December, Clara's
Cottage is decorated for Christmas. Come and see it!
Clara's Corner
This hands-on area for all ages contains a computer interactive,
Victorian dressing-up clothes and large-scale jigsaw, as well as
original costume. The computer holds a wealth of information about
Clara's Cottage and the people who lived and stayed there. It
includes a virtual tour of the rooms for those who may find it
difficult to get around the cottage.
Costume Gallery
The costume gallery is arranged in five room settings covering
Regency, Victorian, Edwardian , the 1930s and the 1950s periods.
Also on show is some of our collection of bakelite.
The Courtyard
Not strictly a gallery, the glazed courtyard with its wood block
floor is the most attractive feature of the museum. Here you can
pause from your explorations and take refreshments whilst the
children can try the free colouring sheets or take a ride on a
1950s galloper horse. Around the walls are old advertising signs
and entertainment posters. The trickling fountain provides a
calming background. From the courtyard you can explore the other
galleries and displays in the museum.
The Dairy
This display is filled with dairying equipment from the days
when local farms made their own butter, cream and cheese.
The Dentist
This small display shows what a visit to the dentist might have
been like in 1900. On display is a dentist's chair, treadle drill,
spittoon and instruments.
Mineral Gallery
The Minerals Display gives an overview of the amazing variety of
different minerals and highlights local examples, such as galena,
calamine, baryte and celestite.
Natural History Gallery
The Natural History Gallery on the ground floor highlights the
main habitats in North Somerset. It includes the typical and
important species of the area. Special features of the gallery
include: a 22 ft (6.7m) wooden boat, an ichthyosaur, a swordfish, a
night-time hide with the sights and sounds of nocturnal animals and
viewing points for toddlers.
Peggy Nisbet Collection
Also upstairs in the cottage is a display devoted to the dolls
made by Peggy Nisbet in her factories in Weston-super-Mare and
Winscombe. These costume and character dolls, made between 1953 and
1988, are widely collected today.
Smyth-Pigott Gallery
A selection of portraits of the major land-owning family in
North Somerset in the 18th and 19th centuries, including two studio
portraits by Gainsborough from his Bath period.
Seaside Holiday
This gallery is just off the central courtyard. It features all
the paraphernalia of a typical seaside holiday in Weston, between
1870 and 1940, with sections on the arrival, the beach, the pier,
looking for lodgings, souvenirs, excursions and entertainment.
There is an original Victorian Punch and Judy puppet set, model
paddle steamer and working old amusement machines.
Toys and Dolls
Upstairs in Clara's Cottage, is a display of some of the
Museum's collection of old toys and dolls. This includes old Teddy
Bears, and a Hornby 0-gauge train set.
World War 2
This display deals with life on the Home Front for the people of
North Somerset during the Second World War, from air-raids to
vegetable plots.
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