Toys Through Time2 February – 18 March
Lift the lid on the toy box to reveal the fun and games of times past.
The Collection
Bailiffgate Museum’s Collection is specific to Alnwick and District. The majority of items in the Collection are related to general social history. These include agricultural objects, domestic items, railway items, coal mining artefacts, printing objects, a sizable photographic collection and the bound volumes of The Northumberland Gazettes.
Object Donations
We are very grateful for donations to our collection.
We are only able to collect items which are specific to Alnwick and District, in that they either have an Alnwick & District provenance or are of a type known to have existed or to have been used in Alnwick & District.
Research Area
Please contact the Museum before you visit as an appointment will be necessary.
Research Enquiries
If you have a local history enquiry specific to Alnwick and District, we may be able to help you. Please write to our Local History Enquiry Service.
Our volunteers run this service and whilst there is no charge, donations are welcome and gratefully received. Charges apply for additional services such as photocopying.
If we are unable to help with your enquiry, we will always try and refer you to an organisation that can.
Please contact us at:
Bailiffgate Museum
14 Bailiffgate
Alnwick
Northumberland
NE66 1LX map
Tel: 01665 605847
Fax: 01665 605394
Email: ask@bailiffgatemuseum.co.uk
Bailiffgate Museum is a Registered Charity No. 1050560
Bailiffgate Museum’s Patron is His Grace The Duke of Northumberland
Bailiffgate Museum offers a wide range of learning opportunities for all ages, including holiday activities, workshops for schools, handling sessions and a loan and reminiscence box service.
Please contact us if you would like further information about our learning programme.
A number of family events are held at the Museum. There are art and craft activities and workshops during most school holidays, as well as family fun days, talks and drop-in art sessions throughout the year.
School Holidays
Drop-in activities are held during most school holidays – information will appear on this website, in local newspapers and will be sent to schools across Northumberland. Recent activities have included junk music workshops, making Border Reiver helmets and performances of Shakespeare in the Museum!
Other Education & Family Events pages:
About Your Visit
The Museum is an ideal place for a class visit and we have a range of resources and activities that can be used to support the teaching of many topics and curriculum areas.
Teachers’ Pack
We have a new teachers’ information pack which will tell you all you need to know about a visit to the Museum, including curriculum links, hazard identification and pre and post visit ideas.
Activity Sheets: Key Stage 1 and 2
Activity Sheets: Key Stage 3 and 4
Curriculum Links
We offer many different activities for schools, including history workshops, outreach visits, object handling sessions, town walks, art activities and loan boxes.
School visits to the Museum are free of charge and must be booked in advance.
There is a classroom area for school parties and resources currently include:
The Museum is particularly relevant to the study of History, Geography, Art and English.
We are always very happy to discuss your requirements with you, and visits can be tailored to your group’s needs.
Teachers’ preview visits to the Museum are free of charge and information sessions can be arranged either at the Museum or in school.
Workshops
We currently offer the following workshops for schools:
These workshops last a full day and are free of charge. Each workshop involves object handling and drama activities and can accommodate a class of approximately 30 children. Workshops can take place either in the Museum or at school, and can be adapted to suit your needs.
Object Handling
Current topics include:
Outreach
We have a range of loan boxes containing real and replica artefacts and documents which can be borrowed free of charge for up to two weeks. The boxes come with an activity pack giving ideas on the use of the objects.
Boxes currently available are:
Other Education & Family Events pages:
The Museum is an ideal place for Early Years groups to learn about the past. There are lots of interactive exhibits to enjoy, including a brass rubbing table, Victorian school area and replica Northumbrian mine.
Our loan boxes can be booked free of charge by Early Years groups and object handling sessions can be arranged, for example, looking at homes and toys in the past.
Early Years groups can also come along to the Museum and use the Art Cart, a free resource with lots of art resources and ideas linked to our temporary exhibitions. Art Cart sessions are led by Museum staff and can be booked throughout the year.
We would be very happy to tailor a visit to your individual requirements.
New resources for early years groups are currently being developed.
Other Education & Family Events pages:
Adult learners and community groups are very welcome at the Museum and our popular loan and reminiscence boxes can be booked by groups and organisations. The boxes can be used to enhance a visit to the Museum or can be taken away to be used in reminiscence sessions.
Each box contains a variety of mostly original artefacts relating to a particular theme. A reminiscence pack is also available giving ideas for use of the objects. Boxes can be borrowed free of charge for up to two weeks.
Boxes currently available are:
Object handling sessions, art activities, talks and town walks can all be arranged.
Other Education & Family Events pages:
2002 \ 2003 \ 2004 \ 2005 \ 2006 \ 2007 Exhibitions
Toys Through Time
A Closer Look
Fun, Fairs and Festivities
Laura Lancaster
Moments of Contentment
Northumbrian Fusion
Inns and Taverns
Northumberland Treasures: Berwick comes to Bailiffgate
Other Exhibitions pages:
A diverse range of art and history exhibitions are staged throughout the year in Bailiffgate’s Gallery, with complementary workshops, activities and special events.
If you would like to join our mailing list and be kept up to date with information about Bailiffgate Museum’s exhibitions, events and activities, please click here.
2002 \ 2003 \ 2004 \ 2005 \ 2006 \ 2007
Other exhibitions pages:
2002 \ 2003 \ 2004 \ 2005 \ 2006 \ 2007 Exhibitions
Alnwick in the Past
23 March – 19 May 2002
The history of Alnwick through old photographs, postcards and press clippings
The Needle Points North
20 May – 14 July 2002
14 panels created by around 300 members of the Embroiderers’ Guild depicting the North of England
Comics for Kids
15 July – 8 September 2002
Ripping yarns, memories of childhood and colourful characters
Amble – A Peek at the Past
11 September – 20 October 2002
A look at Amble, the Friendliest Port
The Big Quilt
23 October – 1 December 2002
The whole of Northumberland and Durham, on one gigantic quilt
Wansbeck Art Group
4 December 2002 – 30 March 2003
Selected works from a local art group
Other exhibitions pages:
2002 \ 2003 \ 2004 \ 2005 \ 2006 \ 2007 Exhibitions
Wansbeck Art Group
4 December 2002 - 30 March 2003
Selected works to enjoy and possibly find that special gift
Art on the Rocks
28 May – 20 July 2003
Prehistoric rock carvings in the North of England
The Alnwick Garden: 1753 – 2003
23 July – 15 September 2003
How it was, is and might have been
Images of Trust
26 September – 31 October 2003
Award-winning photographer, Ikuko Tsuchiya documents Northumbria Healthcare at a time of great change for the NHS
Wansbeck Art Group
4 November 2003 – 18 January 2004
A new collection to admire
Other exhibitions pages:
2002 \ 2003 \ 2004 \ 2005 \ 2006 \ 2007 Exhibitions
Life in Rural Northumberland
21 January – 12 March 2004
With hand-sewn Northumberland quilts and artefacts highlighting country life and crafts
Who do you believe, me or your own eyes?
16 March – 9 May 2004
An exploration into interactive art, challenging some fundamental preconceptions. Including multimedia exhibits and images of Alnwick. By local artist Michael Maddison.
Members Only: the artists’ group in contemporary Japan and Britain
14 May – 3 July 2004
A visual arts exhibition curated by Hiroko Oshima exploring different approaches to joint creativity in contrasting cultural contexts
Frozen In The Frame
7 July – 5 September 2004
Stunning photographs of Northumbrian land and seascapes by local photographer Kevin Temple
The Duke’s School: The history
8 September – 31 October 2004
Celebrating the Centenary of this magnificent building
If All The World Was Paper
3 November – 17 December 2004
An exhibition of new work by The Northumbrian Scribes
Other exhibitions pages:
2002 \ 2003 \ 2004 \ 2005 \ 2006 \ 2007 Exhibitions
Art for Fun
12 January – 27 February 2005
A selection of paintings by the Lesbury Art Group, varying in both subject matter and media
From Pineapple to Pavilion
4 March – 17 April 2005
The development of The Alnwick Garden, charting the last 250 years of growth
Scene through the lens
20 April – 6 June 2005
Our unique countryside, captured in timeless images by local photographer, Ken Baker
The District at War
10 June – 24 July 2005
60 years on; locals tell their stories. A fascinating insight into the war years at home and abroad.
In the Mind’s Eye: Landscape Translations
29 July – 11 September 2005
Drawings and mixed media on paper by local artist Edwin Cartmel-Crossley.
With supporting artists Janice Rackham, John Cartmel-Crossley and Brian Joyce.
Simply Norman Cornish
21 September – 1 November 2005
Paintings, watercolours and prints.
Long before the Angel of the North, Cornish’s work was loved and admired as a symbol of the North East. For all that the mines have closed, his work is an enduring testament to a community whose spirit survives triumphantly.
A University Gallery Touring Exhibition.
Locked In Time – A Focus on the Past
8 November – 18 December 2005
Photographs of thriving communities when coastal industry was in its heyday
Other exhibitions pages:
2002 \ 2003 \ 2004 \ 2005 \ 2006 \ 2007 Exhibitions
Artists from Alnmouth
1 February – 26 February
A collection of paintings by Alnmouth Art Group
Railway Recollections
3 March – 7 April
Take a journey along the local railways. Over 150 years of life on the line.
Bill Peronneau
11 April – 8 May
Photographs 1974 - 2004
A Stitch in Time
12 May – 16 June
Fashionable gowns of a bygone age: 1870s - 1950s costumes
Whatever happened to Melissa Jane?
21 June – 6 August
Stella Vine
Digital Dialogue
9 August – 18 September
Changing images of Northumbria by photographer Kevin Temple
Alnwick Castle: Unlocked
22 September – 5 November
Explore the lives of the inhabitants of Alnwick Castle 1506 - 2006
Alnwick - A Step Back in Time
8 November – 17 December
Take a walk through the streets of old Alnwick
Small independent museums can only flourish with the support of an active band of volunteers.
As always, thank you to our dedicated team of volunteers who help our museum enormously.
Our volunteers are currently involved in a wide range of activities, including:
Any time you can give would be a great help and reliability and enthusiasm are the only requirements.
Friends membership is through an annual subscription of £10 and in return for this pledged amount Friends of Bailiffgate Museum receive:
A Family Friends membership is also now available for an annual subscription of £17. This season ticket gives unlimited access to the Museum for a 12 month period for a family of 2+2.
Would you like your company to:
If so, why not join the Bailiffgate Museum’s Corporate Partnership Scheme?
Benefits include:
Please contact us if you are interested in becoming a volunteer, Friend or Corporate Partner.
Bailiffgate Museum presents for the first time the history of Alnwick and District.
The people and places of North Northumberland are brought to life here in lively, interactive style, through an exploration of six engaging themes. A mixture of traditional displays and exciting hands-on activities makes the Museum suitable for all ages.
A diverse range of art and history-based exhibitions are staged in the Museum’s Gallery and a variety of workshops, activities and special events are held throughout the year.
Attractively located in the former St Mary’s Church, dating from 1836, Bailiffgate Museum can be found close to Alnwick Castle, in one of the oldest parts of the town.
Alnwick District Council www.alnwick.gov.uk
Alnwick Castle www.alnwickcastle.com
The Alnwick Garden www.alnwickgarden.co.uk
Barter Books www.barterbooks.co.uk
Alnwick Playhouse www.alnwickplayhouse.co.uk
Alnwick Rum www.alnwickrum.com
Alnwick International Music Festival www.alnwickfestival.com
Alnwick Food Festival www.alnwickfoodfestival.co.uk
Bamburgh Castle www.bamburghcastle.com
Visit Rothbury & Coquetdale www.visit-rothbury.co.uk
Bailiffgate B&B www.alnwickaccommodation.com
The Aurora Project www.theauroraproject.org.uk
Our shop now offers a range of locally made gifts. We stock framed and unframed photographs of the local area; artist’s prints based on old Alnwick; a range of photographic cards; jewellery; handbags; scarves; and soaps. Such items make the perfect gift or act as a unique way of remembering your visit to the area.
Other items on sale include fun souvenirs, local books, Northumbrian music, railway and border reiver posters and maps of Alnwick and Northumberland.
Room and Corporate Hire
Our highly attractive gallery space is available for hire during evening hours and on Mondays during the winter period.
Bailiffgate Museum can offer you a venue with a difference for a corporate event or act simply as a room in which to hold a meeting.
The space is suitable for meetings, functions, rehearsals, talks, presentations and workshops.
We are able to offer a full range of presentation equipment and meeting room facilities. Refreshments can be provided for an additional charge.
Please contact us if you require any further information or would like to make a booking.
Bailiffgate Museum is located opposite the main entrance to Alnwick Castle in one of the oldest parts of Alnwick.
By road: follow the brown signs for Bailiffgate Museum; long stay parking is available on Bailiffgate.
On foot: follow pedestrian finger signs for Bailiffgate Museum.
For a location map please click here.
Easter – October
Every day 10.00am – 5.00pm
November – Easter
Every day except Monday 10.00am – 4.00pm
Closed
22 December 2008 – 6 January 2009
Adults £2.90
Seniors £2.50
Children (5-16) £2.10
Under 5s Free
Students / Unemployed £2.10
Family (2+1) £6.70
Family (2+2) £7.60
Further concessions are available for groups of 10+
Friends membership is available which includes a season ticket.
© 2006 Bailiffgate Museum | All rights reserved