Media release: 13 September 2023
- Museums Worcestershire Collections Centre open for visitors guided tour on Tuesday 3 October 2023, 1pm
- A chance to see behind the scenes and marvel at the many objects that found their way into the museum collections
- Hear the fascinating stories from the expert curators
Anyone fascinated about Worcestershire’s gloving history, its agricultural collection or its costume collection will love the opportunity on Tuesday 3 October to go behind the scenes at the Museums Worcestershire Collections Centre and hear all about the many and varied objects housed there.
The Collections Centre holds a huge portion of the historic collections of Worcestershire County Museum and Worcester City Museums. As with all museums, it would take a building the size of several football pitches to display the entire collection, so it is necessary for a large portion of the objects to be stored safely, but this doesn’t mean they are hidden away. Several times a year visitors can enjoy access to the Collections Centre and see and hear all about the fascinating collections.
The next tour takes place on Tuesday 3 October at 1pm and booking is open now for this opportunity to delve deeper into Worcestershire’s history via many, many wonderful objects and to hear about the research, conservation, and exhibition preparation which takes place at the Collections Centre.
Visitors will meet one of the expert curators who will give a tour of the Collections Centre and a chance to view the Archaeology and Textiles collections as well as Decorative Arts and Furniture, World Cultures and Social History items that preserve the lives, skills, and memories of countless Worcestershire people.
Senior Curator Deborah Fox says: “The Collections Centre is a fascinating place where many of our projects are started and worked on, ready to bring them into public view in the museums. Entering the Collections Centre is like stepping back into Worcestershire’s history. So many fascinating objects can be seen, all with stories that contribute to the story of Worcestershire people and the county they inhabited.”
To book a place on the tour on at 1pm on Tuesday 3 October please call Hartlebury Castle on 01299 250416. For more information see www.museumsworcestershire.org.uk. Tours last approximately 1 hour and are £8.75 per person. Tours must be pre-booked.
Bespoke tours can also be arranged for groups and organisations. To discuss booking an exclusive tour for your group or organisation please contact: museum@worcestershire.gov.uk.
ENDS
Media: A private tour can be organised for reporters / photographers. Please contact Helen Large: Helen.Large@worcester.gov.uk.
About the Museums Worcestershire Collections Centre:
Access: Some parts of the Collections Centre do require steps or stairs to access them, so regrettably only approximately half the Centre is accessible to visitors in wheelchairs or those with limited mobility.
Location: Located just outside Hartlebury, full directions will be given once a tour is booked.
Transport: The Collections Centre is not located on any public transport networks and therefore your own transport is recommended.
About Museums Worcestershire
Museums Worcestershire is the joint museum service of Worcester City and Worcestershire County Councils. It comprises three fantastic venues– Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum, the Commandery in Worcester and The County Museum at Hartlebury Castle.
The collections and exhibitions at our sites are many and varied, covering centuries of the county’s history right up to the present day. Thousands of objects, including the historic buildings themselves, are brought to life through innovative exhibitions and events throughout the year.