What's in the Museum

Whether you are looking for a trip down memory lane, a chance to learn something new, a peaceful stroll through nature or just a nice cup of tea and a cake, Worcestershire County Museum has it all.

The County Museum, housed in the former home of the Bishops of Worcester, is a fascinating place to explore.  In the museum galleries you can discover social history, toys through time, travel & transport and the intriguing story of Worcestershire's past. Visitors can also see room sets such as the schoolroom and scullery, which are regularly brought to life by visiting schoolchildren and period rooms that focus on the Victorian and Civil War rooms.

The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions and exciting events throughout the year.  A fantastic gift shop, café, picnic areas and nature reserve all add up to a great day out.

Download our Visitor Map which shows you the various areas within the Museum as well as giving you a short history of the site.

So what will inspire you to visit? 

• a fun day out with the family including a nature reserve, fabulous cafe and well stocked gift shop?
• an enjoyable way of finding our more about the world we live in and expanding your own knowledge?
• a chance to explore the past, through room sets and real historical objects and imagine just what life was like for our ancestors?

Come to Hartlebury for all these things and more!

 

What is there to see?

Worcestershire County Museum is housed in the servants quarters of Hartlebury Castle, home to the Bishop of Worcester since the 16^th century. The site has been owned by the Church since 850AD and a manor house was built here as early as the 13^th century, Use this link to find out more about the history of Hartlebury Castle.

The County Museum main galleries include collections ranging from children's toys, archaeology and costume to craft work by the Bromsgrove Guild (find out more about our Collections). 

Some of the exhibitions you will find within the Museum include:

 

Travel & Transport

enjoy our unique collection of Gypsy caravans and other vehicles including cars, carriages and bicycles    

 

Springs, Spas and Holidays

discover the importance of water to our region with a look at canals, spa towns and the dreaded water cure!

 

 

Footsteps Through Life

a fascinating insight into Victorian social history exploring the journey from birth to death

 

Childhood Treasures                                                                      

take a nostalgic look at toys and games from times gone by

 

From Plough to Plate                                                            

explore Worcestershire's rich agricultural history and learn how the items in a Ploughman's lunch are produced

 

Victorian Schoolroom & Scullery

imagine the hardships of everyday life as a Victorian schoolchild or the Castle's Scullery Maid

The building also contains a number of room sets such as Victorian and Civil War rooms and original rooms within the Castle including the Schoolroom, Scullery and Nursery which really help to bring the past to life.

Each year we will be changing and re-displaying our permanent exhibitions and bringing more objects out of our stores so there will always be something new for you to discover!  We also hold temporary exhibitions each year which allow us to explore new themes and exhibt objects not usually on display.

 

   

Within the grounds of the Castle you can also visit the Cider Mill and the Transport Gallery housing a fascinating array of vehicles including a fire engine, hansom cab, bicycles, carts and a large collection of beautifully decorated Gypsy caravans.  

The Castle's magnificent State Rooms, the Georgian Saloon and the Medieval Great Hall, (pictured below) are also open to the public during normal museum hours from 1 April - 30 September this year (2013) and are included in the normal admission price.