The Bewdley Museum Trust was founded in 1969, prior to Bewdley Museum opening in 1972.[1][2] It was founded by Stephen Quayle who stated that the aims of the museum were, "to show people, who have only known Bewdley as a sleepy backwater, what a busy and important centre it was. It will become the focal point of the town and we hope it will attract visitors and stimulate trade."[3]
Collections
The collections include local social history, geology, archaeology, fine art and numismatics.[4] The fine art collection has a focus on landscapes and portraits from Bewdley and the surrounding area, but also includes other works. Significant artists featured in the collection include Cyril Lavenstein, Frank Brangwyn, George Willis-Pryce and Lord Frederic Leighton.[1] The museum also contains a local history reference library and archives.[5]
Buildings and gardens
Bewdley Museum is housed within several buildings and gardens, including:
19th-century slaughterhouse, known as the Butchers Shambles
Exhibitions include the story of Bewdley, traditional crafts and temporary exhibits. The museum also hosts resident craftspeople who work from the museum.[7]
