Warrington Museum & Art Gallery is on Bold Street in the Cultural Quarter of
Warrington
Warrington () is a town and unparished area in the borough of the same name in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, on the banks of the River Mersey. It is east of Liverpool, and west of Manchester. The population in 2019 was estimat ...
in a
Grade II
listed building
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
that it shares with the town's Central Library. The Museum and the Library originally opened in 1848 as the first rate-supported library in the UK, before moving to their current premises in 1858. The art galleries were subsequently added in 1877 and 1931. Operated by Culture Warrington, Warrington Museum and Art Gallery has the distinction of being one of the oldest municipal museums in the UK and much of the quintessential character of the building has been preserved.
Architecture
The museum and art gallery were built between 1855 and 1857 to a design by
John Dobson. The building is constructed in brick and stone and is in two storeys. It is recorded in the
National Heritage List for England
The National Heritage List for England (NHLE) is England's official database of protected heritage assets. It includes details of all English listed buildings, scheduled monuments, register of historic parks and gardens, protected shipwrecks, a ...
as a Grade II
listed building
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
, having been designated on 4 April 1975.
Collections
The museum's collection was originally based upon the collection of the Warrington Natural History Society but it has since grown and now includes a wide range of subjects such as ethnology, egyptology, geology, Roman Britain, pottery/ceramics, botany, fish, amphibians, reptiles, the Civil War, local industries, birds and mammals, and glass. The building also houses a collection of around 1,000 paintings, (oils, watercolours and prints) from the 19th and early 20th centuries, many of which are on display in the mezzanine Art Gallery on the 2nd floor. One of the most famous works in the collection is ''Between The Tides'' (1901) by
Walter Langley, acquired in 1966. On the first floor there are two temporary galleries, one large and one small, which frequently display travelling exhibitions and the work of local artists and events relating to the community. One exhibit which has received some public attention is the
Warrington
Warrington () is a town and unparished area in the borough of the same name in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, on the banks of the River Mersey. It is east of Liverpool, and west of Manchester. The population in 2019 was estimat ...
seal
Seal may refer to any of the following:
Common uses
* Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly:
** Earless seal, or "true seal"
** Fur seal
* Seal (emblem), a device to imp ...
, which was shot in Paddington Lock in 1908, then given to the Museum. In 1999
James Dickinson repaired the mount, giving it new whiskers "rescued from an old tiger".
Notable staff
*
Arthur Deane,
FRSE, Assistant Curator 1901–5
See also
*
Listed buildings in Warrington (unparished area)
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. The unitary authority contains 18 civil parishes, which are distributed around its periphery. Its central area, including the town, is unparished. This list con ...
*
List of museums in Cheshire
In this list of museums in Cheshire, England, museums are defined as institutions (including non-profit organisations, government entities and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific or historical in ...
References
External links
Warrington Museum & Art Gallery
{{DEFAULTSORT:Warrington Museum and Art Gallery
Grade II listed buildings in Cheshire
Museums in Cheshire
Art museums and galleries in Cheshire
Tourist attractions in Warrington
Natural history museums in England
Musical instrument museums in England
Archaeological museums in England
Local museums in Cheshire