Curtis Museum

Over het museum

The Curtis Museum in Alton was founded by William Curtis (1803–1881), a local man with a strong interest in the natural sciences. In 1837 he helped start the Alton Mechanics Institute, a society where he could share his enthusiasm with the men of the town, and he created a museum in the institute's building in Market Street.

Curtis then helped raise the money for the building on the High Street that houses the museum today. As the collection grew, it gradually spread into every room, and it still includes fossils that belonged to him.

The museum now tells the story of the Alton area over about 100 million years. Among its best-known objects is the Alton Buckle, a silver-gilt belt buckle with filigree and garnet inlay that was found in an Anglo-Saxon warrior's grave during excavations at Mount Pleasant in 1959 to 1961. It is considered the finest piece of Anglo-Saxon craftsmanship found in Hampshire. Other displays cover a Roman enamel cup, hop growing and brewing, the Battle of Alton in 1643, the writer Elizabeth Gaskell and the botanist William Curtis, who was born in the town in 1746 and founded the Botanical Magazine.

The museum also has a childhood gallery of toys and dolls, a local studies area for research, and a programme of family activities and events. It is run today by Hampshire Cultural Trust with the help of a volunteer team.

Hoogtepunten

• Alton Buckle, the finest Anglo-Saxon metalwork found in Hampshire
• Rare Roman enamel cup and Saxon burial finds
• 1643 Battle of Alton with a Civil War helmet, breastplate and sword
• The story of Sweet Fanny Adams
• Childhood gallery of toys and dolls from the 18th century
• Local studies area for research

Vaste collectie

• Local history of Alton – Displays on the Alton area, including the Alton Buckle, Saxon burials, hop growing and brewing, the Battle of Alton and the story of Sweet Fanny Adams.
• Childhood gallery – Toys, dolls, games and jigsaw puzzles from the 18th century to the present, shown at a child-friendly height.

Beheerder

Hampshire Cultural Trust

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

De toegang is gratis.

Admission is free and there is no need to book.

Toegankelijkheid

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

There is level access to the ground floor only. Assistance dogs are welcome if they are clearly identifiable.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour

The museum offers children's activities such as dressing-up costumes, trails and workshops, and a childhood gallery with toys, dolls, games and jigsaws displayed at a child's height. Seasonal fact trails and family events are listed on the Hampshire Cultural Trust website.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The museum is near the centre of Alton on the High Street.

Service & horeca

• Museumwinkel

There is a museum shop.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

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