Rutland County Museum
Encyclopedia
Rutland County Museum is located in Oakham
, Rutland
, in the old Riding School of the Rutland Fencible Cavalry
which was built in 1794-95. The museum, opened in 1969, houses a collection of objects relating to local rural and agricultural life, social history and archaeology. Temporary exhibitions are shown alongside the permanent displays and there are activities for children. The museum has recently begun social networking, via Twitter and Facebook.
in 1967. These were the rural life collection of Mr E G Bolton from Casterton Secondary Modern School
and the mainly archaeological collection from Oakham School
. Over the years the Museum has grown and it now has an extensive rural life collection which includes farm tools, tractors, wagons and a wide range of rural tradesmen's tools. In addition it also houses domestic and social history items, along with a large collection of archaeological material from around Rutland.
One of the more thought-provoking items on display is the New Drop Gallows
. It is thought to be the only surviving gallows of its type in the UK. The gallows were portable and were set up at the front of Oakham Gaol when needed. The gallows was first used in 1813 to hang two burglars. The New Drop design was not to be very effective as the drop was too short to break the neck cleanly.
The Museum has one of the oldest surviving box wagons
in the country. Built in Lincolnshire and used on a farm in Preston, Rutland
it dates from 1755–1795 and is unusual due to its wooden axles.
One of the smaller items on display includes the Brooke
Reliquary
. This small casket dates from the 13th Century and originates from the workshops in Limoges
, France and is believed to have held the relics of a saint. The reliquary was discovered in c.1805, after years of being concealed on the site of the monastery at Brooke, when building work was carried out in the cellar of Priory House. The reliquary is decorated with enamel
work in shades of blue, red, yellow and green with images of Christ with two apostles or saints. The robes on the saints are engraved on copper plates which were originally gilded, but this has now worn away.
Oakham
-Oakham's horseshoes:Traditionally, members of royalty and peers of the realm who visited or passed through the town had to pay a forfeit in the form of a horseshoe...
, Rutland
Rutland
Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
, in the old Riding School of the Rutland Fencible Cavalry
Rutland Yeomanry Cavalry
The Rutland Yeomanry Cavalry was a yeomanry regiment of the British Army, first raised as the Rutland Fencible Cavalry in Rutland in 1794 and finally disbanded in 1825....
which was built in 1794-95. The museum, opened in 1969, houses a collection of objects relating to local rural and agricultural life, social history and archaeology. Temporary exhibitions are shown alongside the permanent displays and there are activities for children. The museum has recently begun social networking, via Twitter and Facebook.
Collection
The Museum's original collections were those transferred to it when it was set up by the former Rutland County CouncilRutland County Council
Rutland County Council is a unitary authority responsible for local government in the historic county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England. The current Council was created in April 1997....
in 1967. These were the rural life collection of Mr E G Bolton from Casterton Secondary Modern School
Casterton Business and Enterprise College
Casterton Business and Enterprise College is one of three mixed comprehensive schools in the county of Rutland, England. Located in the village of Great Casterton, the school provides education for 11 to 16 year olds, as well as a Childcare Centre for the under 5s and an adult education programme...
and the mainly archaeological collection from Oakham School
Oakham School
Oakham School is a British co-educational independent school in the historic market town of Oakham in Rutland, accepting around 1,000 pupils, aged from 10 to 18, both male and female, as boarders and day pupils . The Good Schools Guide called the school "a privileged but unpretentious and...
. Over the years the Museum has grown and it now has an extensive rural life collection which includes farm tools, tractors, wagons and a wide range of rural tradesmen's tools. In addition it also houses domestic and social history items, along with a large collection of archaeological material from around Rutland.
One of the more thought-provoking items on display is the New Drop Gallows
Gallows
A gallows is a frame, typically wooden, used for execution by hanging, or by means to torture before execution, as was used when being hanged, drawn and quartered...
. It is thought to be the only surviving gallows of its type in the UK. The gallows were portable and were set up at the front of Oakham Gaol when needed. The gallows was first used in 1813 to hang two burglars. The New Drop design was not to be very effective as the drop was too short to break the neck cleanly.
The Museum has one of the oldest surviving box wagons
Wagon
A wagon is a heavy four-wheeled vehicle pulled by draught animals; it was formerly often called a wain, and if low and sideless may be called a dray, trolley or float....
in the country. Built in Lincolnshire and used on a farm in Preston, Rutland
Preston, Rutland
Preston is a village and civil parish in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England. It lies north of Uppingham on the A6003 to Oakham....
it dates from 1755–1795 and is unusual due to its wooden axles.
One of the smaller items on display includes the Brooke
Brooke, Rutland
Brooke is a village in the county of Rutland in the East Midlands of England. It is located about three miles south-west of Oakham. The village is near the start of the River Gwash near Braunston-in-Rutland; the river forms part of the parish boundary.The parish is dedicated to St Peter...
Reliquary
Reliquary
A reliquary is a container for relics. These may be the physical remains of saints, such as bones, pieces of clothing, or some object associated with saints or other religious figures...
. This small casket dates from the 13th Century and originates from the workshops in Limoges
Limoges
Limoges |Limousin]] dialect of Occitan) is a city and commune, the capital of the Haute-Vienne department and the administrative capital of the Limousin région in west-central France....
, France and is believed to have held the relics of a saint. The reliquary was discovered in c.1805, after years of being concealed on the site of the monastery at Brooke, when building work was carried out in the cellar of Priory House. The reliquary is decorated with enamel
Limoges enamel
Limoges enamel was produced at Limoges, France, already the most famous, but not the most high quality, European center of vitreous enamel production by the 12th century; its works were known as Opus de Limogia or Labor Limogiae...
work in shades of blue, red, yellow and green with images of Christ with two apostles or saints. The robes on the saints are engraved on copper plates which were originally gilded, but this has now worn away.
Local Studies Collection
The Local Studies collection was moved from Oakham Library to the museum in 2010 and comprises a large collection of materials and resources on Rutland and the surrounding villages. It includes census records for Rutland, photographs of local villages, the Jack Hart postcard collection, Ordnance Survey maps of Rutland, editions of local newspapers and offers access to ancestry.co.uk (library edition). The collection also contains a wide range of reference books.Live @ The Museum
Live @ the Museum is a programme of events held at the museum. The events include cinema showings of both modern and classic films, live music and theatre and comedy acts.Admission
Admission to the museum is free; however there are charges for the museums events. The museum is fully wheelchair accessible, with semi-automatic front doors. A wheelchair is available to borrow on request. Guide Dogs are also allowed into the museum. The museum also has a parking facility.External links
- http://www.rutland.gov.uk/museum
- http://www.rutland.gov.uk/live@themuseum
- http://www.twitter.com/rutlandmuseum
- http://www.facebook.com/rutlandcountymuseum