Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery

Over het museum

Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery opened on 11 June 1874 as the Blackburn Free Library and Museum, one of the first purpose-built free museums outside London. The Grade II listed building stands at the corner of Museum Street and Richmond Terrace and was extended in 1893. The library originally occupied the ground floor and the art gallery the first floor. In the 1970s the library moved elsewhere in the town, which freed space for the museum's local and social history collections, and the museum now fills the whole building.

The collections have grown over more than 150 years. They include British art of the 19th and 20th centuries, the Thomas Boys Lewis collection of Japanese prints, Greek and Russian icons, and the R. E. Hart collection of early books, medieval manuscripts and coins. There is also an Egyptology collection and natural history specimens, and the museum holds the Victoria Cross of Marcus Ervine-Andrews.

The local history galleries tell the story of Blackburn as a cotton town. The Lewis Textile Museum, which was formerly housed separately, has been merged into the main building, and its collection of looms and textile machinery is shown in the Cottontown gallery. The museum is run by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. It offers learning sessions for schools, family activities and a programme of exhibitions and talks, and the building can be hired for events.

Hoogtepunten

• Thomas Boys Lewis collection of Japanese prints
• Greek and Russian icons
• Medieval manuscripts and early books from the R. E. Hart collection
• Egyptian Gallery
• Cottontown gallery with looms and industrial history
• Victorian and contemporary art galleries

Vaste collectie

• Permanent galleries – Galleries including the Hart Gallery, Victorian Gallery, Egyptian Gallery, Cottontown Gallery, South Asian Gallery and Birds Gallery.
• Japanese print collection – Japanese prints from the collection of Thomas Boys Lewis, alongside Greek and Russian icons and other art collections.

Opgericht

1874

Beheerder

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

De toegang is gratis.

Admission is free. Learning sessions for school classes cost £3.00 per child for a half-day session and £6.00 per child for a full day.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
• Hulphonden welkom: geen informatie
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The entrance on Museum Street has a ramp with handrails. A lift serves the first floor and a platform lift the second floor. An accessible toilet is on the ground floor. One manual wheelchair can be borrowed on arrival. Ear defenders can be borrowed from the visitor handling boxes on the ground floor. Benches and seating are provided in most galleries. A visual story with photographs of the museum is available to download. The Visitor Team can help on arrival and can be phoned in advance.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Doe- en voelstations
• Verschoonruimte

The museum offers free family-friendly resources, including creative trails and object handling boxes themed on the collections, and artist-led workshops. A Saturday Art Club runs for young people. Baby changing facilities are in the family toilets on the ground floor.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The museum is on the corner of Richmond Terrace and Museum Street. Blackburn can be reached from the M65 via the M6 or M61, from Preston on the A677, from Bolton on the A666 and from Chorley on the A674.

Service & horeca

• Café: niet aanwezig
• Restaurant: niet aanwezig
• Museumwinkel

Gift shop on site. There is no cafe in the museum, but refreshments are available nearby. Family toilets with baby changing facilities are on the ground floor.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten

Flexible gallery spaces can be hired for events; past events include music recitals, project launches and award ceremonies. Prices vary by half day, full day or evening and by gallery space.

Je bezoek plannen