Shrewsbury's new £10 million museum set to become a major tourist attraction
If you needed an extra reason to pay a visit to beautiful Shropshire and the county town of Shrewsbury this spring then a new £10 million museum and gallery might just tick the box.
Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, housed within the Victorian Music Hall and the 13th century Vaughan’s Mansion, looks set to become a leading tourist attraction following a ground-breaking restoration project involving two buildings.
Visitors are taken on a journey of discovery starting in a time when mammoths roamed the earth, unlocking stories from across the entire county of Shropshire, including engineering creativity that influenced the world.
The entire collection has been updated for a modern audience, with exhibitions exploring subjects from geology to natural history via art, archaeology and costume.
The museum holds some of the nation’s most treasured Roman artefacts, including an ornate silver mirror discovered at nearby Wroxeter, one of only a handful still existing from the period. Medieval galleries explore the development of castles, abbeys and towns in Shropshire, while the Civil War gallery highlights visits by King Charles I to the county with a grim reminder of his execution.
In the Shropshire Gallery there are many special exhibits, including an area about famous scientist Charles Darwin, who was born and educated in Shrewsbury, as well as his contemporaries, such as Henry Blunt, who mapped the moon.
Links between the special geology of Shropshire and its famed ceramics industry see wonderful fossils displayed close to a collection of richly illustrated examples from the Caughley porcelain factory, which was located at Broseley.
An exhibition from Frank Cohen’s internationally acclaimed collection of contemporary art, specially curated for the museum and gallery’s opening, is also on show. More information at http://www.shrewsburymuseum.org.uk/
For caravanners and motorhome owners keen to explore the wonders of Shrewsbury and the Marches, there’s a welcoming five star caravan park on the edge of the town.
Oxon Hall Touring Park, located in attractive parkland close to the A5, is open all year round and is perfect for exploring the Welsh Marches. The park can accommodate 100 touring caravans, 60 caravan holiday homes and has special pitches for recreational vehicles (RVs).
Key events in Shrewsbury’s 2014 diary are Shrewsbury Half Marathon and Dragon Boat Festival on June 22, Shrewsbury Food Festival on June 28-29, Shrewsbury Flower Show on August 8-9, Shrewsbury Folk Festival on August 22-25 and the County of Salop Steam Rally on August 24 and 25.
These events attract thousands of visitors to the town and Oxon Hall Touring Park is advising caravanners to book their pitches early to avoid disappointment. Contact Tel: 01743 340868 or visit www.morris-leisure.co.uk for more information.
“Caravanners like the quality, parkland location of Oxon on the edge of Shrewsbury,” said park owner Edward Goddard, managing director of Shrewsbury-based Morris Leisure. “The big advantage the park has is that it is just a short walk from the town’s Park and Ride bus service, which allows caravan and motorhome owners to travel into town without having to drive.”
More Stories
