Northampton Museum and Art Gallery

Over het museum

Northampton's town museum was established in 1865 and moved to its present site on Guildhall Road in 1884, where it shared the building with the town library. When the library moved out in 1910 the museum took over the whole building. It was extended in 1935 and again in 1988, and refurbished for better access in 2012. The museum is owned and run by West Northamptonshire Council and entry is free.

The museum has collected footwear since the 1870s, and its shoe collection of many thousands of pairs is designated as nationally and internationally important. It reflects Northampton's long role as a centre of British shoemaking and also tells the story of the town through archaeology, local history and art. A controversial sale of an Ancient Egyptian statue in 2014 led to the loss of its Arts Council accreditation for some years.

The museum closed in 2017 for a major 6.7 million pound expansion and reopened in July 2021. A new Link space now joins the original museum to the historic Old Gaol Block. Today it has permanent Shoe, History of Northampton and art galleries, a changing programme of temporary exhibitions, a cafe, a shop and a gallery selling work by local artists.

Hoogtepunten

• World-renowned shoe collection with 7,000 years of footwear
• History of Northampton galleries from prehistory to the present
• Fine art collection and changing exhibitions
• The Link, joining the museum to the historic Old Gaol Block
• Gallery selling work by local artists

Vaste collectie

• Shoe Gallery – More than 7,000 years of footwear, from 5300 BCE to today, with a making section and the work of three shoe designers.
• History of Northampton: Gallery 1 – A chronological journey from prehistory to the Civil War, with finds from the Nene Valley, Hunsbury hillfort and a Roman settlement at Duston.
• History of Northampton: Gallery 2 – The story from the Great Fire and rebuilding of the town, through shoemaking, lacemaking, brewing and engineering to modern craftsmanship.

Opgericht

1865

Beheerder

West Northamptonshire Council

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

De toegang is gratis.

Admission is free.

Toegankelijkheid

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

The entrance on Guildhall Road has level access and automatic doors. Lifts go to all floors, and all areas are accessible for wheelchairs and buggies; a museum plan is available at reception. Two accessible toilets are on the upper ground floor, near the cafe and near the shop, and the nearest Changing Places toilet is at North Gate Bus Station. Hearing loops are at reception, the cafe counter, the shop till and in The Studio. Seating is available in some galleries, the cafe and The Link. Blue Badge holders can park free in the pay and display bays on Guildhall Road. Assistance animals are welcome when working and wearing their harness or tabard, with water bowls at reception; the nearest toileting area is at Becket's Park.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk
• Verschoonruimte

The Mini Museum Explorers sessions for young children run on Friday mornings in school terms. There is a buggy park for storing pushchairs, baby changing facilities and a children's menu in the cafe.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The museum entrance is on Guildhall Road.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Restaurant: niet aanwezig
• Museumwinkel
• Kluisjes

The Link Cafe, run by The Lewis Foundation charity, serves specialty coffee and tea, sandwiches, toasties, cakes, seasonal dishes, children's options and afternoon tea, with gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian choices. The museum shop sells local makers' work, books, cards and souvenirs, and the Selling Gallery shows artwork for sale. Secure lockers for small to medium bags cost 1 pound per use.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Zakelijke evenementen
• Bruiloften / trouwceremonies

Tot 200 personen.

The Central Hall seats up to 100 for dinner and up to 150 in theatre style, and informal receptions in the Link, Central Hall and cafe can hold up to 200. The Studio holds up to 60 in theatre style for meetings and workshops. Catering is by the cafe operator, The Lewis Foundation.

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