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Thirsk Museum

14-16 Kirkgate, Thirsk, North Yorkshire YO7 1PQ

Telephone: 01845 527707

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What to see in Thirsk Museum

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Thirsk Museum has eight rooms full of exhibits. Most are on open display so you can get really close. We can only highlight a few of the exhibits here - we hope you’ll come and see the rest for yourself.

The Thomas Lord Room

Here you’ll find cricketing memorabilia including a portrait of Thomas Lord presented by the MCC, a copy of his only known surviving signature, and a number of items connected with Yorkshire cricket and Yorkshire players. For non-cricket fans there are maps, drawings and photographs tracing the changes in Thirsk over the last 200 years, together with a fine collection of sticks and riding crops.

The Thomas Lord Room

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The Herriot Room

Evoking the farming life of the 1930s and 1940s, this room contains a collection of agricultural and dairy tools, and a display of the blacksmith’s craft. A series of illustrative panels traces the development of agriculture in the Vale of Mowbray and explains the processes of butter- and cheese-making.

The Herriot Room

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The Cottage Kitchen

With its stone sink, cast-iron range and linen hanging above to air, this is where the 19th century housewife spent her time washing, cleaning and cooking. The kitchen has a variety of household utensils once in daily use, including an early washing machine and a heavy mangle. High up on the wall (so you can’t sit on it!) is the infamous Busby Stoop Chair.

The Cottage Kitchen

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The First Floor Display Area

Just feel the nostalgia! There are collections of toys and childhood possessions, items reflecting the experiences of two World Wars, and documented photographs telling the lives and fortunes of families from the area. A special exhibition follows the rise and fall of Bamlett’s, the agricultural engineering firm synonymous with Thirsk for over a century. Some displays here are temporary - we change them regularly to reflect topical themes or recent anniversaries.

The First Floor Display Area

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The Reynolds Room

See ceramics, coins, jewellery and tools found by archaeologists around Thirsk, many from Roman, Anglo-Saxon and Mediaeval times. Among the exhibits are the remains of the “Saxon Giant” recovered from an ancient burial ground near the Museum. This room is named after Bernard Reynolds who converted the room for the Museum’s use.

The Reynolds Room

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The Shops

Our “shops” have received a fresh new look. Among the latest displays are “A century of Wedding Belles” - wedding dresses from the 1840s to the 1940s; “The Office” - ledgers, writing equipment and stationery from the 19th and early 20th centuries; “The Music Shop” - wind-up gramophones and 78rpm records from the 1920s and 30s; and “Lace” - examples of lace-making in a variety of styles.

The Shops

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The Edwardian Sitting Room

Step back in time to the beginning of the 20th century. An invalid lady and her young maid can be seen by the fireside, surrounded by cabinets of fine china, intricate needlework and other treasures. Her furniture, sewing machine, harmonium, pictures, books and curios complete the scene.

The Edwardian Sitting Room

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The Victorian Bedroom

Peep into the bedroom - don’t be shy! A traditional iron and brass bed is covered by a patchwork bedspread originally from a maid's bedroom in Thirsk Hall. Freshly laundered undergarments are laid out ready to wear, while the gentle ticking of the grandfather clock leaves the quiet of the room undisturbed.

The Victorian Bedroom

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