The National Trust Museum of Childhood at Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire has reopened following a £2.2 million transformation.
The new Museum will provide fun and fascination for people of all ages, by encouraging them to share and compare a variety of childhood experiences from the 19th century to the present day.
The project was funded with an award of £1.6 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund and additional support from the National Trust, the Betty Cadbury Trust, the National Trust South Derbyshire Centre and several generous legacies.
© National Trust
The Museum, which is situated in the 19th-century servant’s wing of Sudbury Hall closed at the end of October 2006 and since then ambitious work has been taking place to create fantastic new galleries and improved visitor facilities.
The new Museum will be 50 per cent bigger, thanks in part to the creation of a new first floor, giving more space for visitors to enjoy their visit. Exciting plans have also led to the creation of eight new galleries where visitors of all ages can discover different aspects of childhood.
The new galleries have also enabled us to put more objects from the collection on display, presented under improved conservation conditions. The installation of a lift means that the Museum will be fully accessible to all visitors and there will also be increased capacity for learning groups.
A new Museum Shop will also open, stocking a range of items for our younger visitors and the tea-room at Sudbury has been extended with the creation of a new first floor.
Lesley Law, Property Manager said:
'This is a very exciting time for all of the staff and volunteers involved with the development of the Museum of Childhood.
'Throughout the project we’ve placed people right at the centre of our plans and we’ve involved many groups in helping us to shape how the Museum will look. We’re now really looking forward to welcoming our visitors back to share our fantastic new Museum with them.'
© National Trust / Haley Sharpe Design Ltd
Visitors will be able to explore new galleries containing lots of historic objects, including many items from the Betty Cadbury Collection of ‘Playthings Past’ and some present-day objects that show how childhood has changed over time. There will also be a chance to find out more about childhood over the last 100 years by listening to the recorded memories of people. Each gallery will also have areas for activities and events.
Whilst the new galleries will feature some of the well loved activities from the old Museum of Childhood such as the Victorian Schoolroom and a new and improved chimney climb, visitors will also be able to enjoy a host of new displays.
You can explore playing in different environments, from tree houses to cobbled streets. Be a chimney sweep or even a scullery maid. In our new upstairs Toy Gallery you’ll be amazed by the wonderful toys that are on display. There will also be a temporary exhibition gallery which this year will take a behind the scenes look at the development of the Museum of Childhood.
With inspirational collections from childhood, archive films and lots of things to do, it’s a great day out for everyone.
New family volunteering opportunities
If you’d like to find out more about volunteering at the Museum of Childhood as an individual or with your family (children must be aged 10 or over) please contact Hannah Steggles by email or by telephone on 01283 585337.
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