Access to Reserve Collections

The Somerset County Museums Service is in the advanced stages of preparations to modernise the County Museum and restore its home at Taunton Castle. Known as The Museum of Somerset Project, this will involve the County Museum closing for upto two years whilst building and development works take place.

The planned closure date is 31 March 2008. In the lead-up to this, the museum’s curatorial team is working full time on recording, labelling and packing the c.10,000 objects displayed in the museum before they are put into storage during the museum’s closure.

In the circumstances, we very much regret that from August 2007 we are unable to offer access to the reserve collections held by the County Museums Service, nor are we able to provide study facilities or support with research enquiries.

Please note that the Portable Antiquities Scheme is still operational. If you have found archaeological objects that you wish to have identified and recorded please contact Naomi Payne, Finds Liaison Officer on 01823 320200 or email ncpayne@somerset.gov.uk