Axminster Museum
Axminster Heritage tells the story of Axminster’s past -its early beginnings as Stone and Bronze Age settlements, the importance of the waters of the River Axe and of Axminster as a river crossing point for Romans and other travellers, the importance of farming and the growth of industry particularly the story of Thomas Whitty and the history of his carpet business. New displays for 2017 include more about the modern Axminster Carpets started by the Dutfield family in 1937 and more about the town’s important brush making industry. They show Axminster to be not only enterprising but resilient, particularly during times of war. Visitors will learn from an eye-witness Parliamentarian account, for instance, that the town was almost completely destroyed by fire during the English Civil War. Displays also highlight some of the Eminent Victorians who shaped Axminster. They include local historian George Pulman, author of the 'Book of the Axe'; Emily Conybeare, founder of the town's original Cottage Hospital and James Davidson author of ‘A History of the Town and Parish of Axminster’ .Fellow Victorian Dean William Buckland, one of Britain's leading geologists, is the anchor for a new range of geological specimens. His fascinating account of the massive Axmouth landslip of 1839 brings alive this stretch of the coast, adding a new dimension to the coastal walk between Seaton and Lyme.
There is a programme of regular temporary exhibitions. The popular ‘Heritage Alive’ events, talks, courses and get-togethers offer the chance to get more involved. The Axminster Heritage Centre (incorporating the Tourist Information Service) opens Easter until end of October and is open weekdays 10am to 4pm; Saturdays: 10am to 1pm. Closed on Sundays Entry is Free. Axminster Heritage Centre, Silver Street, Axminster EX13 5AH Tel:01297 639884 Details of all this activity and copies of local history documents can all be found on the website: www.axminsterheritage.org
The Axminster Heritage Centre Building The Centre is housed in a building Thomas Whitty built for his family carpet business and which subsequently served the town as a court-house and a hospital, before its current life as exhibition gallery and community space. Left unoccupied for many years, the Grade II listed building, opposite the Minster Church and right in the centre of Axminster’s conservation area, was acquired by Axminster Heritage Ltd in 2012 with the help of a grant of £200,000 from Devon County Council. With grants from Making It Local and the Axe Vale Festival, the upper floors were renovated in 2013: On the first floor – The Bradshaw Meeting Room is a community facility which is used for Axminster History Society talks, workshops, visiting exhibitions, films etc., It is available for rent for other social gatherings. On the second floor- There are five offices for letting to local start-up businesses. This rental income now covers outgoings and helps to ensure the financial sustainability of the whole Centre.
The next stage of the project was the renovation of the ground floor to install the town museum collection from smaller unsuitable premises. At the rear of Thomas Whitty House is a Drill Hall, which was the headquarters of the Axminster Territorial Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment. This has been temporarily partitioned off to increase the size of the exhibition area. To the side is the original entrance carriageway to the factory which now forms the entrance to the Centre. This work was funded by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and a number of other grants and donations. A lift now provides disabled access to the first floor. In Spring 2017 the town’s Tourist Information service moved into The Heritage Centre to provide one central point of focus for visitors.
Development continues. The next and final phase involves the Drill Hall, the Dye House and a courtyard, all at the rear of the main building. These buildings are being renovated and a mezzanine floor will be added over part of the Drill Hall for storage and conservation work together with an office and new toilet facilities. A small shop and café will be included together with the overall final design and fit out of the complete Heritage Centre.
The building also houses the town's tourist information centre.[1]
References
- ↑ "The Old Courthouse". Axminster. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
External links
Coordinates: 50°46′52.5″N 2°59′59.5″W / 50.781250°N 2.999861°W