Chepstow Museum
Encyclopedia
Chepstow Museum is a museum
in Chepstow
, Monmouthshire
, south east Wales
. It is operated by Monmouthshire Museums Service.
in Bridge Street, near the River Wye
. It occupies Gwy House, a fine townhouse
built in 1796 originally for Warren Jane, a wealthy apothecary
and merchant
. The building became a girls' high school in 1907, and was then used as a Red Cross hospital in World War I
. In 1921 it became the Chepstow District Hospital, before being converted into the town museum in 1982. It retains many of its original internal features.
from medieval times and Marches
town and its location within the Wye Valley
, attracting many poets and painters.
In 2010 the museum held an exhibition, 'The Wye Tour and its Artists', of period art from the Wye Tour
. A catalogue and detailed guide was published.
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
in Chepstow
Chepstow
Chepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway...
, Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
, south east Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It is operated by Monmouthshire Museums Service.
Location
Chepstow Museum is located close to the town centre, opposite Chepstow CastleChepstow Castle
Chepstow Castle , located in Chepstow, Monmouthshire in Wales, on top of cliffs overlooking the River Wye, is the oldest surviving post-Roman stone fortification in Britain...
in Bridge Street, near the River Wye
River Wye
The River Wye is the fifth-longest river in the UK and for parts of its length forms part of the border between England and Wales. It is important for nature conservation and recreation.-Description:...
. It occupies Gwy House, a fine townhouse
Townhouse
A townhouse is the term historically used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and in many other countries to describe a residence of a peer or member of the aristocracy in the capital or major city. Most such figures owned one or more country houses in which they lived for much of the year...
built in 1796 originally for Warren Jane, a wealthy apothecary
Apothecary
Apothecary is a historical name for a medical professional who formulates and dispenses materia medica to physicians, surgeons and patients — a role now served by a pharmacist and some caregivers....
and merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
. The building became a girls' high school in 1907, and was then used as a Red Cross hospital in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In 1921 it became the Chepstow District Hospital, before being converted into the town museum in 1982. It retains many of its original internal features.
Displays
The museum collection and displays reflect the growth and history of Chepstow as a trading portPort
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
from medieval times and Marches
Marches
A march or mark refers to a border region similar to a frontier, such as the Welsh Marches, the borderland between England and Wales. During the Frankish Carolingian Dynasty, the word spread throughout Europe....
town and its location within the Wye Valley
Wye Valley
The Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an internationally important protected landscape straddling the border between England and Wales. It is one of the most dramatic and scenic landscape areas in southern Britain....
, attracting many poets and painters.
In 2010 the museum held an exhibition, 'The Wye Tour and its Artists', of period art from the Wye Tour
Wye Tour
The Wye Tour consisted of a series of scenic buildings, natural phenomena, and factories located along the River Wye. It was a popular vacation destination for British travelers from 1782 to around 1850, and reached its peak popularity during the Napoleonic Wars, when travel to Continental Europe...
. A catalogue and detailed guide was published.