Refusing to Conform: Non-Conformity in South Gloucestershire

Our latest exhibition is an account of Non-Conformity in South Gloucestershire – Protestant groups who declined to follow the rules and ceremonies of the established Church of England.

Some of these groups were specifically identified in Charles II’s 1662 Act of Uniformity and suffered disadvantage and unequal treatment as a result, being barred from public office and from pursuing university degrees. Over time, more groups were identified as non-conformist. Their chapels can be seen throughout South Gloucestershire.

Our exhibition covers a range of themes and also homes in on some specific details, such as the life and career of Handel Cossham, a prominent Non-Conformist lay preacher.

Did you know that this coal-mining entrepreneur, the largest employer in the West of England, a public benefactor and builder of several schools, a man who was a JP, the MP for Bristol East, and twice Mayor of Bath – was born in the tiny, now rather dilapidated, cottage situated next to Age UK in Thornbury High Street?   You may read the plaque on the house which says so.

In fact, he was born in the same room as his great grandfather, grandfather and father had been born. When Handel died, 50,000 people lined streets in Bath and Bristol to watch his funeral procession. You can find out more about him in the exhibition, including how he came to be called Handel and how he made a successful career in the coal mining business.

Pop in and discover for yourself something of the history of religious non-conformity in South Gloucestershire.

Elements of this FREE exhibition have been created in collaboration with Frenchay Village Museum, Kingswood Museum and Yate Heritage Centre, working together as members of the South Gloucestershire Museums Group.

After The Great War: The Peace and Beyond

What happened locally after the Great War ended in November 1918?     How did Thornbury and the local villages welcome home in 1919 men who had been away for so long and seen so much?  How did they commemorate those that didn’t come home?

Come and see photos, objects and documents showing what happened in Thornbury, Charfield, Cromhall, Tytherington, Olveston, Littleton, Tockington, Alveston, Pilning and Redwick, and Oldbury on Severn.  The Littleton vicar penned a special Welcome Home Song for the returning soldiers and sailors, and sang it to them, to the tune of Widdecombe Fair!

In this centenary of men returning from the Great War (and many of course did not return), do come and discover some of the fascinating details of our own area one hundred years ago.

Come and Meet the Artists

Hurray!  – the Severn Vale Art Trail is back – and we’re delighted to be hosting three artists and some of their fantastic work.

Clare Stephens’ pottery is made and decorated using traditional ceramic techniques – and is both attractive and highly practical.

Rosemary Millar’s gorgeous silver and gold jewellery incorporates semi-precious stones and pearls which Rosemary sources from all over the world – but the beautiful pendants, bracelets and earrings are created right here in Thornbury.  It’s worth coming in just to see how beautifully her work is displayed!

Lorraine Durant paints evocative pictures  of mountains, coasts and local scenes.   Come and see whether there’s anywhere you recognise.

Whenever you come, there’ll always be at least one artist on hand for you to chat to as you look around.  They love talking about what they do, so don’t be shy.  Ask them how they go about their work, what materials they use – and what really inspires them.  Maybe when you discover how they took their first steps in art, you’ll be inspired to try something new too!

The Western Front 1918

In this centenary anniversary year of the last year of fighting on the Western Front, come and discover some stories of local losses in 1918.

Read about the backgrounds and the war experiences of some of the men remembered on Thornbury’s Parish War Memorial.

This display is in our upstairs front room.

Downstairs, we have a larger exhibition, telling the story of the Peace and the community coming together to commemorate local losses through war memorials – but also cruelly experiencing deaths among the local civilian population, as waves of the influenza pandemic struck Britain.

Between the Covers

A chance to see some of the books held in the Museum’s collection…

All sorts of topics are covered, from Hens to Household Management…

You can find recipes from a local Thornbury baker (check out his recipe for Mysterious Pudding!), accounts from a Thornbury shop, and a ledger from Thornbury Railway Station – from the time when trains actually ran to Thornbury!

Is there a Doctor in the House? A Dip into Thornbury’s Medical History

Our volunteers have been delving into the Museum’s Store Room to produce a new exhibition.

You’ll discover the contents of Thornbury midwife Nurse Cotton’s bag and see what Dr Reid of Olveston carried in his case.

We have a selection of 19th and 20th century spectacles.  See whether you think they’d suit you!

Meanwhile, what was the Faraday Medical Coil device?  No idea?  There’s one way to find out…

You can also discover the medicinal properties of gunpowder, read about the wonderful Thornbury perfume, find out about local dentistry services and discover the stories of some notable local doctors from the town’s past.

This is all in the upstairs exhibition room, while downstairs “Curious Works and Stately Lodgings: the Art of Thornbury Castle” continues.

Come and have an explore – it’s all free.

‘Curious Works and Stately Lodgings’: The Art of Thornbury Castle

A Grand Design

Kevin McCloud eat your heart out!    In around 1507 in Thornbury, one of the highest ranking and richest men in the country began altering his manor house in order to create a fortified, palatial residence.

Edward Stafford, Third Duke of Buckingham, already owned eleven castles and thousands of acres of land spread out around England and Wales but decided to build Thornbury Castle as his power base. It was strategically placed to give him good access to most of his properties, yet still allowed him to attend the King’s Court in London when needed.

Although the defensive parts of the castle seemed to hark back to medieval times, the new residential accommodation incorporated many features of the latest style, taking inspiration from the recently erected Richmond Palace, built by Henry VII.  Edward Stafford definitely wanted the wow factor!

Downfall

BUT – Buckingham did not live to complete the works…  Perceived by Henry VIII as a threat to the throne, the duke was tried for treason and beheaded in 1521 and everything he owned was taken by the Crown.

Aftermath

King Henry granted many of the estates to his own followers but he held on to Thornbury Castle, perhaps because of the quality of the impressive building, with its beautiful gardens and three nearby hunting parks.

The king’s surveyors had reported that, ‘The south side is fully finished with curious works and stately lodgings’.   The word ‘curious’ in this context meant ‘skilfully made’ or ‘rare’ – details which would have caught the eye of a Tudor Kevin McCleod!    We have chosen this phrase for the name of our exhibition.

Our new exhibition

The exhibition looks at some of the finer points of the building’s architecture and how this magnificent residence was adorned in Tudor times.  It asks the question: Did aspects of Buckingham’s lifestyle and the running of his great household contribute to his downfall?

The exhibition also comments on the mid-19th century restoration and shows how Thornbury Castle has been represented in art and photography over the centuries.