Castle Cary and District Museum
Encyclopedia
Castle Cary and District Museum is a small local museum
in Castle Cary
, Somerset
, England.
The museum is housed in the Market house, a grade II* listed building built in 1855 in anticipation of increased trade after the projected arrival of the railway in 1856, by F.C. Penrose. It replaced the former house on the site which had stood since 1616, and incorporating some features from the earlier building. The building also contains two old prison cells, and the Information Centre.
There is a varied collection of exhibits spread over the two floors of the building. The earliest are local fossil
s including ammonites and a display about the discovery of an ichthyosaurus
at Alford
. Local industry and agriculture are represented with displays on the production of rope and hemp, particularly John Boyd Textiles and Donne & Sons who were rope makers in the town between 1797 and the 1960s. There is also a collection of agricultural implements, tools and relics, and geology of the local area. Information is also provided about Cary Castle
, a motte and bailey castle which was built either by Walter of Douai
or by the following owners, the Perceval family, after the Norman conquest
. It was besieged
by King Stephen
in 1138, and again in 1153. By 1468 the castle had been abandoned in favour of a manor house which was built beside it. The site was excavated in 1890 and demonstrated the foundations of a 24 metres (78.7 ft) square tower.
A room is dedicated to the live and work of Parson James Woodforde
who was born at the Parsonage in nearby Ansford
in 1740. He was later curate at Thurloxton
before moving to Norfolk
. For nearly 45 years he kept a diary
recording an existence the very ordinariness of which provides a unique insight into the everyday routines and concerns of 18th century rural England.
Local museum
A local museum is a museum that covers local history. Its collection normally includes objects with a local connection of some sort. Such museums are often small in nature and have a low budget for their running costs...
in Castle Cary
Castle Cary
Castle Cary is a market town and civil parish in south Somerset, England, north west of Wincanton and south of Shepton Mallet.The town is situated on the River Cary, a tributary of the Parrett.-History:...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England.
The museum is housed in the Market house, a grade II* listed building built in 1855 in anticipation of increased trade after the projected arrival of the railway in 1856, by F.C. Penrose. It replaced the former house on the site which had stood since 1616, and incorporating some features from the earlier building. The building also contains two old prison cells, and the Information Centre.
There is a varied collection of exhibits spread over the two floors of the building. The earliest are local fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
s including ammonites and a display about the discovery of an ichthyosaurus
Ichthyosaurus
Ichthyosaurus is an extinct genus of ichthyosaur from the Early Jurassic of Europe . It is among the best known ichthyosaur genera, with the Order Ichthyosauria being named after it...
at Alford
Alford, Somerset
Alford is a village and parish on the River Alham, in Somerset, England, situated south of Shepton Mallet and two miles west of Castle Cary in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 63. It lies on the River Cary.-History:...
. Local industry and agriculture are represented with displays on the production of rope and hemp, particularly John Boyd Textiles and Donne & Sons who were rope makers in the town between 1797 and the 1960s. There is also a collection of agricultural implements, tools and relics, and geology of the local area. Information is also provided about Cary Castle
Cary Castle
Cary Castle stood on Lodge Hill overlooking the town of Castle Cary, Somerset, England. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.-Details:The motte and bailey castle was built either by Walter of Douai or by his son Robert who also built Bampton Castle in Devon...
, a motte and bailey castle which was built either by Walter of Douai
Walter of Douai
Walter of Douai was a Norman knight, probably at the Battle of Hastings, and a major landowner in South West England after the Norman Conquest. He is given various names and titles in different sources including: Walter de Douai. Douai is sometimes written as Dowai...
or by the following owners, the Perceval family, after the Norman conquest
Norman conquest of England
The Norman conquest of England began on 28 September 1066 with the invasion of England by William, Duke of Normandy. William became known as William the Conqueror after his victory at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066, defeating King Harold II of England...
. It was besieged
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
by King Stephen
Stephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
in 1138, and again in 1153. By 1468 the castle had been abandoned in favour of a manor house which was built beside it. The site was excavated in 1890 and demonstrated the foundations of a 24 metres (78.7 ft) square tower.
A room is dedicated to the live and work of Parson James Woodforde
James Woodforde
James Woodforde was an English clergyman, best known as the author of The Diary of a Country Parson.-Early life:James Woodforde was born at the Parsonage, Ansford, Somerset, England on 27 June 1740...
who was born at the Parsonage in nearby Ansford
Ansford
Ansford is a village and parish in Somerset, England, situated on the northern edge of Castle Cary in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 1,048....
in 1740. He was later curate at Thurloxton
Thurloxton
Thurloxton is a village and civil parish north east of Taunton, and south west of Bridgwater on the south-eastern slopes of the Quantock Hills in the Sedgemoor district of the county of Somerset, in England...
before moving to Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
. For nearly 45 years he kept a diary
Diary
A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...
recording an existence the very ordinariness of which provides a unique insight into the everyday routines and concerns of 18th century rural England.