Printable Museum Directory A

ALLERFORD http://www.hornermill.co.uk/allerford/schoola.html
West Somerset Rural Life Museum (MGCP) (AMC),
The Old School, Allerford, Minehead TA24 8HN
(Correspondence address) School House, Withiel Florey, MINEHEAD, TA24 7DE
Type:
Managing Body: West Somerset Rural Life Association, Charity No. 1065071
Telephone Porlock (01643) 862529 (when open) plus answerphone
email: westsomrurallifemuseumatuk2.net
web-site: www.allerfordwebsite.ic24.net
Chairman: M D Williams
Curator:
Secretary: Jean Harbottle
Treasurer: Mrs Ann Sebright
Supervisor: Duncan Osborne
Opening Hours: Wed, Thurs, Fri 10.30 - 4.00
Admission: Adult £1.50, child 50p
Collection Owner: Assoc. Trustees
Collections: Social history: rural life in West Somerset - Victorian kitchen, laundry and dairy; local craft workers' tools and products; an old schoolroom with desks, books and toys.
Facilities: Shop, School parties, Disabled Visitors, Parking, Picnic Green

AXBRIDGE
King Johns Hunting Lodge (AMC), (MGCR)
The Square, Axbridge, BS26 2AP. Correspondance address: Axbridge and District Museum Trust, PO Box 1157, Axbridge, Somerset, BS26 2WA
Web site: www.kingjohnshuntinglodge.co.uk
Type: Charitable Trust
Managing Body: Axbridge & District Museum Trust
Telephone: Axbridge (01934) 732012;
Company Secretary: Kate Browne
Museums Officer: Lucy Newman
Administrator: Ralph Peebles Brown
Chairman: John Page
Opening Hours: 1st April - 30th September: Monday - Sunday 1.00pm - 4.00pm.
Admission: Free, contributions welcome
Collection Owner: Sedgemoor District Council, Axbridge Archaeological and Local History Society
Collections: Geology, archaeology, local history, ceramics and glass.

BISHOP'S LYDEARD www.wsr.org.uk
Gauge Museum
West Somerset Railway Association,
The Railway Station, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton, TA4 3BX

Type: Society
Managing Body: West Somerset Railway Association
Telephone: (01823) 433856/431999
Fax: 01823 433954
e-mail: wsra@btconnect.com
Curator: Norman Hawkes
Opening Hours: From 9.30am - 17.00 during operating days. See railway timetable.
Admission: Free
Collection Owners: West Somerset Railway Association
Collections: Railway memorablia, 4561 small prairie steam engine. Reconstructed working signal box; large model railway layout and temporary exhibition of railwayana by Somerset County Museums Service.

BLUE ANCHOR
Blue Anchor GWR Railway Museum,
The Railway Station, Blue Anchor, Minehead TA24 6LG(Correspondence address: Peter Treharne, Station House, Blue Anchor, Minehead, TA24 6LB) tel: Dunster (01643) 821092

Type: Society
Managing Body: West Somerset Steam Railway Trust
Telephone: Dunster (01643) 821092
Hon Curator: Peter Treharne
Opening Hours: Easter-September: Sundays and Bank Holidays 11.00am - 5.00pm
Admission: Free, but donations appreciated
Collection Owners: West Somerset Steam Railway Trust Ltd., and individual Trust members
Collections: Railway relics, mainly West Country and Great Western Railway, housed at a working station with traditional handwheel-operated level crossing, 1904 signal box etc.
Facilities: Very limited parking at the station - Free parking available on sea front, access for disabled

BRADFORD-ON-TONE www.sheppyscider.com
Sheppy's Cider & Rural Life Museum
Three Bridges, Bradford-on-Tone, Taunton TA4 1ER

Type: Private
Managing Body: R J Sheppy & Son
Telephone: Bradford-on-Tone (01823) 461233; Fax (01823) 461712
e-mail: info@sheppyscider.com
Web-site: www.sheppyscider.com
Director: D.J. Sheppy
Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8.30am - 6.00pm all year round. Sundays, 11.00 - 1.00pm (Easter to Christmas only).
Admission: Adults £2.00; Child £1.50; Senior Citizen £1.75
Collection Owner: Sheppy Family
Collections: Cider making and farm equipment and allied crafts.
Facilities: Video on cider making and its history. Farm and Cider shop. Walks around orchards, pond and farm. Tea room open summer months only. Toilets.

BRIDGWATER www.sedgemoor.gov.uk
Blake Museum (AMC) (MGCR) Blake Street, Bridgwater TA6 3NB
Correspondence address: Tourism, Culture & Marketing, Sedgemoor District Council, Bridgwater House, King Square, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 3AR

Type: Local Government
Managing Body: Sedgemoor District Council
Telephone: Bridgwater (01278) 456127 Fax: (01278) 436423
e-mail: museums@sedgemoor.gov.uk
Web-site: www.sedgemoor.gov.uk
Museums Officer: Jessica Vale BA, MA AMA
Museum Officers Assistant: Lucy Newman
Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10.00am - 4.00pm, closed Bank Holidays and between Christmas and New Year, other times by arrangement.
Parties by arrangement.
Admission: Free, but donations welcome
Collection Owner: Sedgemoor District Council
Collections: Archaeology, local history and art; life of Admiral Robert Blake; Monmouth Rebellion; Brick and Tile Industry, Shipping and Bridgwater Docks and Carnival
Facilities: Shop, school parties

BRIDGWATER www.somerset.gov.uk/museums
Somerset Brick and Tile Museum
East Quay, Bridgwater
Type: Local
Managing Body: Somerset County Council in partnership with Sedgemoor District Council
Telephone: Bridgwater (01278) 426088 or 01823 320200 for details
Curator:
Opening Hours: Wednesday & Thursday 9.30am - 12.30pm, 1.00pm - 4.00pm, School Groups and Organised Parties by arrangement.
Admission: Free (but donations welcome)
Collections Owner: Somerset County Council and Sedgemoor District Council
Collections: Products of the brick and tile industry of Somerset

BRUTON MUSEUM www.bruton-town.org.uk
The Dovecote Building, 26 High Street, Bruton, Somerset BA10 0AA

Type: Society
Managing Body: Bruton Museum Executive Committee
Telephone (01749) 812851
Chairman/Curator: Peter Moon (Chairman), Dr. Colin Clark (Curator)
Opening hours: 10.30am-12.30pm weekdays all the year round, 11.00am - 12.30 and 2.30 - 4.30pm Saturdays and Sundays 2.30 - 4.30 April to September only. Other times by arrangement
Admission: Free
Collection Owner: Bruton Museum Society
Collections: Agricultural, Kings and Sexeys school records, small collection of costume, gas and chemist records plus memorabilia of Bruton and church archives
Facilities: Shop, toilets for the disabled/wheelchair in the museum, on street parking

CASTLE CARY www.southsomersetmuseums.org.uk
Castle Cary & District Museum and Preservation Society (AMC),
1st Floor, The Market House, Market Square, Castle Cary, BA7 7BG, (Correspondence address: Gillian Burr, Woodville House, Woodcock Street, Castle Cary, Somerset BA7 7BJ)

Type: Society
Managing Body: Castle Cary Museum & Preservation Society
Telephone: 01963 350680 (during the season)
Web-site: www.southsomersetmuseums.org.uk
Chairman: Rev. A Bond
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 10.30am - 12.30 & 2.30pm - 4.30pm, Saturday 10.30am - 12.30,
Admission: Free
Collection Owners: Castle Cary Museum & Preservation Society and Parson Woodforde Society; Living History Society, John Boyd (Textiles)Ltd.
Collections: Social history of Castle Cary and district; Diarist Parson Woodforde; changing local exhibitions, Photographs, Geology, Costume Gallery inc. WWI & WWII uniforms, changing exhibitions, both local and national, living history connections
Facilities: school parties, parking (limited disabled access)

CHARD www.southsomersetmuseums.org.uk

www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~carterw
Chard & District Museum (MGCR) (AMC), Godworthy House, 15 High Street, Chard TA20 1QL
(Correspondence address: 17 Cerdic Close, Chard, Somerset TA20 1NR)

Type: Society
Managing Body: Chard and District Museum Council
Administrator: Mr Peter Wood Telephone: Chard (01460) 65091 (opening hours), out of hours
Mr Peter Wood (01460 62154)
Chairman: R B R Dillon
Contacts: Barry and Barbara Dillon (01460 64017)
Web-site: www.southsomersetmuseums.org.uk
Opening Hours: 1st May - 27th Oct; Mon - Fri 10.30am - 16.30pm
Admission: Adult £2.50, child .50p (accompanied only)
Collection Owner: Chard & District Museum Trustees
Collections: Local history (Industrial, Agricultural, Social & Domestic), Rural Crafts, Early Flight; Artificial Limbs, costumes
Facilities: Access possible for disabled visitors to most parts. Museum shop. School parties, Group visits
No parking or refreshments at museum but available in Chard.

CHARD
Hornsbury Mill, Hornsbury Hill
Chard TA20 3AQ (North of Chard off A358 Chard - Ilminster road).

MUSEUM NO LONGER OPERATIONAL

CHAPEL ALLERTON
Ashton Windmill
Chapel Allerton, Axbridge, Somerset.(Correspondence address) David Dixon, Harewood House, Chapel Allerton, Axbridge, Somerset. (01934 712034)
Type: Local
Managing Body: Sedgemoor District Council
Telephone: Axbridge (01934) 712034; Bridgwater (01278)435399
Museums Officer: Jessica Vale BA, MA, AMA
Opening Hours: Easter - 24th September: Sundays and Bank Holidays 2.30pm - 4.30pm, July - August : Wednesdays 2.30-4.30pm
Admission: Free but contributions welcome
Collection Owner: Sedgemoor District Council

CHEDDAR www.cheddarcaves.co.uk
Cheddar Man and the Cannibals
Cheddar Caves and Gorge, Cheddar , Somerset BS27 3QF

Type: Private/site
Managing Body: Longleat Enterprises
Telephone: Cheddar (01934) 742343
Fax: 01934 744637
e-mail: caves@cheddarcaves.co.uk
web-site: www.cheddarcaves.co.uk
Curator: Bob Smart
Opening Hours: Daily 10.00am - 4.30pm, July and August 10.00am - 5.00p.m.
Admission: Adult £11.50, Child £8.50, Family £31.50 (2 adults & 2 children)
Collections Owner: Longleat Enterprises
Collections: Formation of Cheddar Gorge and Caves. Palaeolithic "Cheddar Man" - 9000 year old skeleton - and tools from Gough's Cave. Cheddar local history - Romans, Saxons and Victorians. One hundred years of Cave Exploration - Richard Gough 1890 to Cave Divers 1990.

CRANMORE www.eastsomersetrailway.com
East Somerset Railway (The Strawberry Line)
Cranmore Railway Station, Shepton Mallet BA4 4QP

Type: Society
Managing Body: Trustees
Telephone: (01749) 880417
Fax: (01749) 880764
e-mail: info@eastsomersetrailway.com
Chairman: Richard Masters
Opening Hours: Open 10:00-16:00 when trains are running. Steam trains run every Sunday throughout the year, Saturdays Easter - October, most days Half-terms and School Holidays. Ring for further details.
Admission: Free. Steam train rides Adult £6.00, Child £4.00, OAP £5.00. Special events throughout the year.
Collection Owners: The East Somerset Railway and various private owners
Collections: Railway locomotives, rolling stock and relics; David Shepherd Art Gallery, Railway Artists Gallery
Facilities: Gift shop. Disabled facilities, school parties, large free car park and restaurant.

CREWKERNE www.communigate.co.uk/twc/crewkerneheritagecentre
Crewkerne and District Museum
The Heritage Centre, Market Square, Crewkerne, TA18 7JU
Type: Independent Community Museum
Managing Body: Crewkerne Heritage Centre Ltd.
Telephone: 01460 77079
E-mail: crewkernemuseum@hotmail.com
Web-site: www.crewkernemuseum.co.uk
Chairman: Roger Rousell
Opening Hours: 10.30 - 4.00
Admission: Adults £1.00, children free
Collection Owner: Trustees Crewkerne and District Museum & Heritage Centre
Collection: Social and Industrial History of Crewkerne and Surrounding District
Facilities for Adult groups/clubs, school parties, disabled access, small shop,public car park near by.

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