Frome Heritage Museum
Italiante three story building, with narrow entrance at the end of the building nearest the camera
Frome Heritage Museum is located in Somerset
Frome Heritage Museum
Location within Somerset and the United Kingdom
LocationNorth Parade, Frome, Somerset, England
Coordinates51°13′58″N 2°19′09″W / 51.2328°N 2.3191°W / 51.2328; -2.3191
Collection sizeapproximately 23,000 items
Websitehttp://www.frome-heritage-museum.org/

Frome Heritage Museum in Frome, Somerset, England houses a collection of local history and has a particularly important collection of artefacts from the bronze foundry of J.W.Singer.

Collections

There are two display rooms and a library, with displays of many local industrial artefacts, maps & photos. The collections include local archaeological and historical artefacts related to the historical development of Frome and district. A display is devoted to the Butler and Tanner printing works in the town, including an old printing press. Another display exhibits photographs, diagrams, plans and tools from James Fussel's Ironworks of Mells. A Cockey lamp is on show, with its art nouveau style; more than 60 can still be seen around the town. Other displays show items from Bussman Cooper (later Beswicks), the Marston House Fire Engine, local blacksmithing, a Chemist's Shop from Bath Street and a collection of Victorian and later costumes.[1]

Singers

There is a large selection of photographs, glass negatives and art metalworks from the local company Messrs J.W.Singer & Sons Ltd.[2] John Webb Singer was born in Frome and established his foundry in 1851. The company made brass ornaments for local churches and became known through the Oxford Movement within the Church of England which led to increasing demand for church ornaments.[3] In addition to church work, the company developed the facilities and expertise to create large statues, which were exported around the world.[4] One of the first such statues was a copy of General Gordon riding a camel. The company was also responsible for the bronze statue of Boudica with her daughters in her war chariot (furnished with scythes after the Persian fashion), commissioned by Prince Albert and executed by Thomas Thornycroft. It was not cast in bronze until 1902, 17 years after Thornycrofts death, and now stands next to Westminster Bridge and the Houses of Parliament, London.[5] The statue of Lady Justice on the dome above the Old Bailey was executed by the British sculptor, F. W. Pomeroy and cast by Singers. The statue of Alfred the Great at Winchester was a further commission.[6]

Building

The Italianate building was built as a Literary and Scientific Institute in 1865 for John Sinkins. The architect was J Hine and the builders were Carr and Pickford. It is a Grade II listed building.[7] Conservation of the building was undertaken by Chedburn Dudley in conjunction with the Frome Historic Building Preservation Trust.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Collection". Frome Museum. Archived from the original on 28 September 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  2. ↑ "Frome Heritage Museum". Culture 24. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  3. ↑ "The Founder". Frome Museum. Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  4. ↑ "List of Singers Statues". Frome Museum. Archived from the original on 28 September 2009. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  5. ↑ Mark Stocker, ‘Thornycroft, Thomas (1815–1885)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004 online edn, Oct 2006 , accessed 2 January 2009
  6. ↑ "Statuary". Frome Museum. Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  7. ↑ "Literary and Scientific Institute". historicengland.org.uk. English Heritage. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  8. ↑ "Conservation - Sample Projects". Chedburn Dudley. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
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