Bruton Museum
Free local museum in Bruton's High Street covering the town's Saxon and abbey past, Steinbeck's writing desk and sculptures by Ernst Blensdorf.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Bruton Museum began in 1989, when the Bruton Museum Society was formed to build up a collection of local objects together with the community and local schools. It started in the basement of a shop, then moved to a disused coach house, and in 1999 it settled in the Dovecote Building on the High Street after the district and town councils jointly bought the property. The building also holds a tourist information office. Since 2010 an anonymous donor has paid the rent, which secured the museum's future.
The displays follow Bruton from its beginnings as a Saxon town to its importance as a medieval church centre, with a particular focus on Bruton Abbey and on what came before and after the town's medieval peak. The museum also remembers the American writer John Steinbeck, who lived in Bruton in 1959, and shows his writing desk.
Art is another strand: the museum holds works by Ernst Müller-Blensdorf, a German refugee sculptor and artist who was branded degenerate by the Nazis and later lived in the town. A changing display of contemporary art, called Casespace, adds a modern element. The museum is Accredited by Arts Council England.
Highlights
- History of Bruton Abbey and the Saxon and medieval town
- John Steinbeck's writing desk from his 1959 stay in Bruton
- Works by the refugee sculptor Ernst Müller-Blensdorf
- Casespace, a changing display of contemporary art
- Free entry
Permanent exhibitions
- Bruton from Saxon town to abbey centre – Displays on Bruton's Saxon beginnings, its medieval importance as a church centre and the history of Bruton Abbey.
- Ernst Müller-Blensdorf – Sculpture and artworks by the German refugee artist who settled near Bruton.
- John Steinbeck's writing desk – The desk used by the American novelist during his stay in Bruton in 1959.
- Founded
- 1989
- Operated by
- Bruton Museum Society
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Entry is free. Annual membership costs £15 (£25 for a family). Some events have a small charge and may need a ticket.
Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
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Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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