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Museum of South Somerset

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Museum of South Somerset
Museum of South Somerset is located in Somerset
Museum of South Somerset
Shown within Somerset
LocationHendford, Yeovil, Somerset, England
Coordinates50°56′22″N 2°38′05″W / 50.9394°N 2.6348°W / 50.9394; -2.6348
TypeLocal museum

The Museum of South Somerset was located in Hendford, Yeovil, Somerset, England. It was also the location of a Tourist information centre. The museum was closed in 2011 and its collections were moved to the Community Heritage Access Centre at SSDC Lufton Depot, 7 Artillery Road, Lufton.[1]

History

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The collection was started by Alderman W.R.E. Mitchelmore, Mayor of Yeovil from 1918 - 1921.[2] It was based in the former coach house to Hendford Manor. The manor house itself was built around 1720 and has since been converted into offices and is a Grade II* listed building.[3]

There were displays of local history and geology particularly local industries such as leather and glove-making, flax and hemp production, stone working, engineering and newspaper printing.[4] The display cover various stages of the history of the area prehistoric and Roman occupation, through to agricultural and industrial revolutions. The Lower Gallery was used to house temporary touring exhibitions, while the upper gallery had permanent displays, including a reconstructed Roman dining room and kitchen with mosaics recreated from excavations of local villas at Westland, Lufton and Ilchester.[2][5] There were also displays of local prehistory and geology. A period Georgian house provided glimpses into the museum's glassware, costume and social history collections. Items from the museum's firearms, pottery and painting collections were also exhibited and changed regularly.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Our museums". South Somerset District Council. Retrieved 20 March 2015. The building which housed the Museum of South Somerset closed on 31st March 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Museum of South Somerset". Yeovil Town. Archived from the original on 14 February 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  3. ^ "Hendford Manor". historicengland.org.uk. English Heritage. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
  4. ^ "South Somerset Museum". South Somerset Museum. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
  5. ^ "South Somerset Museum". South Somerset Museum. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  6. ^ "Museum of South Somerset". Culture 24. Retrieved 30 May 2010.