Museum Review No.2

Ashby de la Zouch Museum, Leicestershire 23rd August 2007.

Report by Valerie Dear and Sue Titmuss

Having seen their marvellous website (www.ashbydelazouch.org.uk/) We went to see the Museum and to find out how it was set up. The museum is on the same site as the public library with a large car park. The Tourist Information Bureau is also in the library so it is a really good site for the museum.

The property belongs to the local council and is part of the old primary school. Consequently, the Museum has not incurred purchase or maintenance costs and only has running costs. They managed to acquire a lot of funding from the Lottery in particular but it took years of hard work!!

The excellent little shop is in the entrance area. The museum itself is in two rooms and covers the very early Ashby from Neolithic times up to early 19th Century. There are artefacts reflecting local participation in the 1st and 2nd World Wars, excellent display boards, and hanging from the ceiling is a striking life-size model of a local famous aviator. The main exhibition room is light and airy and everything is set out beautifully.

They also have a large first floor room which is used for conservation, workshops, meetings etc.

They publish journals and are happy to talk to visitors about how the whole thing was set up, funds obtained etc.

This museum is well worth a visit. Visit the website (see Useful Links) for details of times of opening, entrance fee etc.