Page 22 - Oundle Life Issue 1

OUNDLE
MUSEUM
How it all began...
We are unable to open our doors to the public at the moment but we look forward to welcoming you back as soon as we possibly can. In the meantime we thought you may welcome a brief history on how it all began.
Oundle Museum came into being in
1994 through the efforts of a small group
of volunteers with no previous museum experience. For six years the museum was housed in the upper floor of the old Drill Hall.
In 2000 Oundle Town Council and Oundle Museum moved to the refurbished Old Courthouse Building with the aid of a generous grant from Heritage Lottery. New cases and equipment were purchased to furnish the two main exhibition rooms together with an office, store and work room.
Having previously been a Registered Museum we achieved Accreditation status in 2008.
The multi award-winning Museum is still run wholly by volunteers led by a management team with a wide variety of specialist skills and a band of willing stewards, all backed up by a supportive group of Friends and Trustees.
The main exhibition gallery is situated in the
original courtroom and houses a permanent display depicting the history of the town and surrounding area. There is a special section devoted to Oundle’s pubs and breweries. At one time there were four breweries and 52 pubs (in operation over the past 300 years).The gallery also houses an Activity Room for children and several handling boxes have also been designed for use in schools.
The second exhibition gallery houses temporary displays. Each year a new theme is chosen for an exhibition and everything has relevance to the local area.
During 2009 the police sergeant’s back yard was turned into a room for the display of our agricultural and gardening equipment.
No charge is made for admission but donations are encouraged and fundraising events along with some financial assistance from local councils enable the Museum to function and develop.
We look forward to welcoming you back as soon as we can. Keep checking our website and facebook page for updates.
Carole Bancroft-Turner
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