Facilities for schools

The Museum welcomes visits from school parties and can accommodate groups of up to thirty at a time. For schools outside the immediate area it is possible to combine a visit to the Museum with a tour of The World of James Herriot, a study of St Mary’s Parish Church or a Town Trail.

The Museum collection provides material for work at various levels on local and social history, patterns of domestic life, the economic development of a market town and civilian experiences of two World Wars. Our Castle Garth exhibition provides a simple introduction to archaeology and to pre-Conquest society. Many of the exhibits are on open display and can be safely handled. Objects from the reserve collection can be made available to meet specific needs, as can copies of photographs from our extensive archive.

Work sheets or information packs can be provided to meet the requirements of groups, and there is a Happy Families Challenge Quiz for visitors young or old. Teachers are welcome to make preliminary visits free of charge to prepare the ground.

Visits can be made during normal opening hours, but by prior arrangement, school parties can have exclusive use of the facilities on a Thursday or in the evenings. For schools visiting by coach, there is parking within easy walking distance and a convenient picnic site.

The Museum can arrange for talks to be given to pupils in school and conducted tours of the town can be organised.

Charges for all these activities are moderate and are negotiable to suit the needs of groups. The charge for an hour’s guided visit for a party of thirty pupils plus three staff, for example, would be £25.

Please contact us for bookings and further information.