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.
Enjoy our fun interactives:
Six specially themed displays capture the unique heritage of this historic region.
Take a walk through Alnwick District, looking at local fishing, agriculture and railways, before moving on to the dangerous bandit country of the Border Reivers.
Explore the many local castles before discovering Alnwick's commerce and trade and the thousand year history of the Freemen of Alnwick.
See and hear people from the past and present, enhanced by a specially commissioned film and archive footage.
Each section mixes conventional displays with exciting interactives, which include the chance to squeeze through a Northumbrian mine, try on armour, test your skill in a medieval computer game and sing along to local songs.
A diverse range of art and history exhibitions are staged throughout the year in Bailiffgate's Gallery, with complementary workshops, activities and special events.
2006 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
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.
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 the Museum for 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!
Art Cart
On certain Saturdays throughout the year you can come along to the Museum and use our 'Art Cart', a free art resource. There will be ideas for things to make linked to our temporary Exhibitions, or you can use your imagination to create your own masterpiece!
Look out for new family resources coming soon!
Family Events Diary
| Date | Time | Activity Description |
| 9 Dec 2006 | 11am-3pm | Art Cart - Puppets |
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.
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.
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.
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.
We also work with a local education specialist, Peter Brown of Cadenza, to offer drama and music workshops on a variety of historical themes including Victorians and World War Two. These workshops last a full day and cost £3 per child.
Object Handling
Object handling sessions on a variety of topics can be arranged and take place either at school or as part of a Museum visit. These sessions are free of charge.
Current topics include:
Loan Boxes
Loan boxes can be used to enhance the teaching of many subjects, including history, art and design, science and drama.
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:
If you would like a free teachers' pack or any further information on any of our educational resources, or if you have any suggestions for new activities, please contact the Museum.
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 [link to take you to loan boxes section] 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. Please contact us for more information.
New resources for early years groups are currently being developed.
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, talks and town walks can all be arranged. Please contact the Museum for more information.
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.
Please contact the Museum if you would like further information on voluntary opportunities or if you would like to become a volunteer.
Friends membership is through an annual subscription of £10 and in return for this pledged amount Friends of Bailiffgate Museum receive:
. a season ticket giving unlimited access to the Museum for a 12 month period, including all temporary exhibitions, for themselves and one guest
. invitations to previews of all exhibitions
. discounts on special events held at the Museum
. a quarterly newsletter
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.
Please contact the Museum if you would like to join the Friends of Bailiffgate Museum.
Would you like your company to:
If so, why not join the Bailiffgate Museum's Corporate Partnership Scheme?
Benefits include:
Please contact the Museum if you would like further information on becoming a Corporate Partner.
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
The research area gives access to the 1881 Census and British Isles Vital Records Index on PC, a range of local history books and a variety of other research materials.
Please contact the Museum before you visit as an appointment may 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.
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.
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.
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
17 December 2006 - 9 January 2007
Adults £2.50
Seniors £2.20
Children (5-16) £1.80
Under 5s Free
Students / Unemployed £1.80
Family (2+1) £5.80
Family (2+2) £6.60
Further concessions are available for groups of 10+
Friends membership is available which includes a season ticket.
Alnwick District Council www.alnwick.gov.uk
Alnwick Castle www.barterbooks.co.uk
The Alnwick Garden www.alnwickgarden.co.uk
Barter Books www.barterbooks.co.uk
Alnwick Playhouse www.alnwickplayhouse.co.uk
Shire Pottery www.porcelain-shirepottery.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
Eshott Hall www.eshott.com
Bailiffgate B&B www.alnwickaccommodation.com
Please contact us if you have any suggestions of further links to help our users access related information.
Please contact us at:
Bailiffgate Museum
14 Bailiffgate
Alnwick
Northumberland
NE66 1LX
Tel: 01665 605847
Fax: 01665 605394
Email: ask@bailiffgatemuseum.co.uk
Jemma Taylor, Curator Manager
Email: jemma@bailiffgatemuseum.co.uk
Deborah Hawthorne, Learning & Access Officer
Email: deborah@bailiffgatemuseum.co.uk
Stuart Shiel, Administration Assistant
Email: stuart@bailiffgatemuseum.co.uk
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.
Bailiffgate Museum is a Registered Charity No. 1050560
Bailiffgate Museum's Patron is His Grace The Duke of Northumberland
© 2006 Bailiffgate Museum | All rights reserved