Weston Park Museum

Over het museum

The museum began in 1875 in Weston House, a former private home in what was then a new public park, and opened as Sheffield's first city museum. A neoclassical extension followed in 1887, and the neighbouring Mappin Art Gallery was added to house a private bequest of paintings. For much of the twentieth century the two buildings were known together as the Sheffield City Museum and Mappin Art Gallery.

The old house was demolished in the 1930s and a new building joined to the Mappin Art Gallery opened in 1937. The complex was badly damaged in the Sheffield Blitz of December 1940 and reopened in 1965. After closing in 2003, it was redeveloped with lottery and public funding and reopened in October 2006 under its present name, which ended the separate identity of the art gallery.

Today the museum is run by Sheffield Museums Trust. Its collections cover archaeology, natural history, decorative art and social history, and the galleries tell the story of the city from prehistory to modern times. A weather station in the grounds has kept records since 1882.

Hoogtepunten

• Ancient Egypt gallery with mummies and everyday objects
• Beneath Your Feet archaeology gallery
• What On Earth! natural science gallery on Sheffield's wildlife and environment
• Picturing Sheffield, 250 years of art about the city
• Sheffield Stories on Caribbean and South Asian heritage in the city

Vaste collectie

• Picturing Sheffield – Paintings and other art made over the last 250 years that show Sheffield and its people, in the Gordon Bridge Gallery.
• Ancient Egypt – A gallery on life, death and belief in ancient Egypt, drawing on the museum's own collection.
• What On Earth! – A natural science gallery about the wildlife and environment of Sheffield and the wider world.

Opgericht

1875

Beheerder

Sheffield Museums Trust

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

De toegang is gratis.

Entry is free. A donation of £5 per visitor is suggested but is not compulsory.

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 museum describes itself as fully wheelchair accessible. All galleries are on the ground floor and the upstairs activity rooms are reached by lift. Accessible toilets are at reception, off the main ground-floor corridor and in the first-floor picnic space, and there is a Changing Places toilet with a ceiling hoist that is opened with a Radar key from the foyer. A hearing loop is available at reception. Wheelchairs can be borrowed if booked in advance by phone or email. Seating is provided in most areas and folding stools are available in several galleries. Only trained assistance dogs are welcome. The museum can be noisy at weekends and in school holidays between 11am and 3pm, and some galleries are dimly lit. Ear defenders and a few sensory backpacks can be borrowed from reception, and a visual story can be downloaded to prepare for a visit. Large print versions of the gallery sheets and What's On guides are available on request. There are three disabled bays near the tennis courts on Mushroom Lane, and Blue Badge holders can use some pay and display bays nearby without paying.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk
• Verschoonruimte

Buggies and prams can be left in the foyer. Baby changing facilities are in the foyer, off the main corridor and in the first-floor picnic space, which visitors can use for packed lunches when school groups are not using it. Breastfeeding is welcome. Regular family events include Fridays Under 5s, Toddler Takeover, family activity sessions, seasonal workshops and a play bus.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

From the M1, leave at junction 33 and follow the A57 towards the university. Bike parking is just inside the park gates. Coaches can stop on Western Bank for drop-off and pick-up only.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Museumwinkel
• Kluisjes

The Ambulo cafe is in the museum and is open Tuesday to Sunday. The shop sells toys, games, books, local history titles and honey from the museum's rooftop hives. A limited number of lockers is available in the foyer, and buggies and prams can be left there. Food and drink are not allowed in the galleries.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

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

The museum can be hired for wedding receptions, business dinners, Christmas parties and other private events. Room details and capacities are given on request.

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