Grosvenor Museum, Chester
27 Grosvenor Street
Chester
Cheshire
CH1 2DD
England
Website
Telephone
01244 402033
Fax
01244 347587
The Grosvenor Museum was founded in 1885 and its origins are linked to the start of the Chester Society of Natural Science Literature & Art, founded by Charles Kingsley (the author) in 1871. The museum is redbrick designed by Thomas Meakin Lockwood of Chester and is built with money partly donated by the first Duke of Westminster. The Museum is famous for an internationally important collection of Roman Stones but also has collections of Art, Silver, Social History & Natural History. The Museum shop is well worth a visit and we also have strong community links and an education service.
Venue type
Museum
Additional info
We run a wide range of activities for children particularly in school holidays. Please note for events involving children - Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult at all times - and in general children should be accompanied.
27 Grosvenor Street
Chester
Cheshire
CH1 2DD
England
Website
Telephone
01244 402033
Fax
01244 347587
Primarily Roman, including an internationally important collection of Roman Stones, and archaeological finds from the surrounding area - the collections also covers Fine Art, Natural History, Local Silver, Period House Room displays & small costume gallery, Timeline gallery. Rolling programme of varying temporary exhibitions.
Collection details
Weapons and War, Toys and Hobbies, Social History, Personalities, Natural Sciences, Music, Fine Art, Decorative and Applied Art, Costume and Textiles, Coins and Medals, Archaeology
Key artists and exhibits
- Louise Rayner
- Charles Kingsley
- Victorian costume
- Edwardian costume
- Delamere Horn
- Agricola lead pig
- Willoughby Gardiner coin collection
- Medieval shoes
- Extensive Chester Silver collection
Collections services
- General guide to collections available
- Object identification and/or written enquiry service
- Public access available to collections information
- Specialist publications on collections available
- Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)
27 Grosvenor Street
Chester
Cheshire
CH1 2DD
England
Website
Telephone
01244 402033
Fax
01244 347587
Boutique City: Fashions bought in Chester
Today Chester is heralded as a boutique city and a shoppers paradise for visitors from across Cheshire, the Wirral, North Wales and further afield. indeed shopping has always been a big part of Chester's history with its markets, unique Rows and its famous department store, Browns of Chester. This small exhibition shows a range of 19th and 20th century fashions that were once bought in Chester and proudly paraded on the city's streets
Suitable for
- All ages
Where
Costume Gallery Period House
Admission
free
Shadows: Colour in the Absence of Light
Pam Field and Nicky Fergusion have been working together for five years producing exhibitions and community workshops throughout Cheshire. For this exhibition both artists have studied shadows and have created very different works from this theme, While Pam's paintings and prints are organic and inspired by nature Nicky's are architectural and look at a building and its interior. Togehter the artists have a common interest in the absence of light - ever changing colour and the romance of a 'shadow'.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
Where
Exhibition Gallery Two
Admission
Free
Paintings by Rembrandt's Workshop & Stubbs
Paintings lent by the Duke of Westminster - Rembrandt (1609-1669) was one of the supreme geniuses in the history of art. 'A Man with a Hawk' and 'A Lady with a Fan' painted in 1643 in Rembrandt's studio under his direct supervision display technical brilliance and a sense of physical presence. George Stubbs (1724-1806) was among the greatest painters of the horse. 'The Grosvenor Hunt' which has been described as the most sublime of all English sporting pictures'. Was painted in 1762 for the 1st Earl Grosvenor, one of Stubb's most important patrons.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
Where
Art Gallery
Admission
Free
Tales of a River: The Dee from Source to Sea
The River Dee is a familiar sight to many of us but what do we really know of its mysteries ? From its source in the mountains of Snowdonia to the end of its journey at the Dee Estuary this river is a thing of natural beauty - a home for wildlife, a provider of water for human use - a site for sport and play, and much much more. It has international designations for its wildlife, habitats and geology, which are always being added in recognition of its importance. Come and learn more about our river in this celebration.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
Where
Exhibition Gallery One
Admission
Free
Curious Clothing: Playful Fashions
The fashion world has always dared to be different depart from the norm and play with the art of surprise. This small exhibition examines how the design of clothes can take us unawares, in ways both sensational and subtle.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
Where
Costume Gallery Period House 1st Floor
Admission
Free
Wild Britain: Wildlife Photographs by Ben Hall
Ben Hall is one of Britain's most talented young wildlife photographers. Born in Cheshire he honed his skills on the wild moors of the peak district and the woodland glades of the Cheshire plain, before exploring further afield to Scotland and beyond. This exhibition brings together many of his favourite images. It celebrates the surprising diversity of the natural world in Britain, and shows just what amazing wildlife can be found on our doorstop.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
Where
Exhibition Gallery Two
Admission
Free
My Favourite Outfit
Clothes are used to communicate meaning and express our personalities. Whether we are dressed soberly for work, glitzy for a night out or down for a lazy weekend, we are letting our individual choices and identities shine through. It is not surprising then that there are certain outfits we hold very dear. This exhibition brings the contents of your wardrobes centre stage and give you the chance to make public the stories behind them.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
Where
Exhibition Gallery One
Admission
free
27 Grosvenor Street
Chester
Cheshire
CH1 2DD
England
Website
Telephone
01244 402033
Fax
01244 347587
Chester: A History
Chester has a long and fascinating history, dating from the arrival of the Roman army around AD74. This illustrated talk by Simon Ward Senior Archaeologist, explores the city throughout the ages and looks at the activities of the people who contributed to its intriguing stories, as uncovered in Simon's latest publication Chester: A History.
When
1-2pm
Where
Grosvenor Museum Lecture Theatre
Admission
FREE
Ancient Meols
Meols on the tip of the Wirral peninsula is one of the richest and most fascinating archaeological landscapes in Britain. Join us for a talk on this important seashore site, looking specifically at artefacts in the Grosvenor Museum collection.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
When
2-3pm
Where
Lecture Theatre
Admission
Free
Where Shadows Fall: Adult Printmaking Workshop
Spend a day with artists Pamela Field and Nicky Ferguson. Following an introduction to their exhibition 'Shadows: Colour in the Absence of Light' you will move to the museum's courtyard garden to look at the shadows cast there. Then, in the workroom, you will learn the process of relief printmaking and produce a print of your own to take home.
Suitable for
- Not suitable for children
When
10am-3pm
Where
Grosvenor Museum Education Workroom
Admission
£5 book at the Museum Shop 01244 402005. Please wear suitable clothes and bring a packed lunch
Royal Chester Rowing Club Tour
Meet at Royal Chester Rowing Club, Dee Lane, Chester
As the countdown to the London 2012 Olympic continues celebrate the Cultural Olympiad Open Weekend with a tour around one of Britain's oldest rowing clubs. Learn about the club history river races, the science of cars, training and much more in this hour long tour.
When
2-3pm
Where
Royal Chester Rowing Club, Dee Lane, Chester
Admission
Friday 24 July 11am 2pm & Saturday 25 July 2pm
FREE
Limited places to book ring 01244 402015 or 402033
Tower Power
A rare opportunity to explore this stretch of the City Walls - with children's activities to bring the past to life
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- All ages
When
11am-4pm
Where
Water Tower Chester City Walls
Admission
Free Drop in
Chester Amphitheatre brought to life
Help celebrate the Festival of Archaeology (18 July - 2 August) by coming along to see archaeology in action and to take part in activities on site. There will be things of interest for all ages from military displays and gladiatorial games in the arena by DEVA Victrix Leg XX. to talk to archaeologists about their latest discoveries.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- All ages
When
11am-4:30pm
Where
Chester Amphitheatre
Admission
Free Drop In
Finds Identification Day
Have you found anything exciting whilst digging in your garden ? Bring your archaeological finds to be identified by Vanessa Oakden, Find Liaison Officer as part of the Festival of British Archaeology 2009, and find out more about the Portable Antiquities scheme.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- All ages
When
10:30am-4pm
Where
Grosvenor Museum Newstead Gallery
Admission
FREE drop in
Archaeology Study Session
Join us for a half day study session looking at Chester archaeology as part of our Festival of British Archaeology 2009 celebrations. Find out about antiquarian interest in the history of the city, look at real artefacts and get the latest information on recent excavations.
When
10am-12:30pm
Where
Grosvenor Museum Education workroom
Admission
FREE but booking essential ring the Museum shop on 01244 402005
Archaeology Day
Discover more about the museum's archaeology collections with the Keeper of Early History, and get hands on with the artefacts
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- All ages
When
11am-3pm
Where
Newstead Gallery
Admission
Free Drop In
Make a 'Fossil'
Fossils are the remains of animals and plants that lived many many years ago and have been turned into stone. Come along and make a copy of one of the museum's very own fossils to take home with you.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
When
2-4pm
Where
Newstead Gallery
Admission
free
Deva Day
Activities objects and soldiers will help explore life and the people of Roman chester.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- All ages
When
11am-4pm
Where
Around the Grosvenor Museum
Admission
Free drop in activities
Traditional Fishing Demonstration
Meet at Greenaway Street entrance to Edgar's Field (Handbridge)- drivers please park in Little Roodee car park and walk across the Old Dee Bridge. 2pm Free Please note that this activity is dependent on a number of factors to check it is still going ahead please call 01244 402015. A rare opportunity to see a sight once common in Chester - traditional salmon fishermen casting their nets into the depths of the Dee.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- All ages
When
From 2pm
Where
Greenaway St entrance to Edgar's Field
Admission
Free - to check this activity is going ahead ring 01244 402015
Archaeological Highlights
Meet at the Cross at the top of Bridge Street, Chester. See the archaeological highlights of Chester's famous and historic city. Mike Morris, Historic Environment Manager will be your guide helping you discover the story behind the city and updating you on the latest archaeological developments.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
When
1-2pm
Where
Centre of Chester meet at Cross top of Bridge Street
Admission
Free but booking required through the Museum Shop on 01244 402005
Birds of Prey
See these magnificent birds 'in the feather' then make your own to fly home with you.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- All ages
When
2-4pm
Where
Newstead Gallery
Admission
free drop in
Float Your Boat
Make your own floating boat just like the ones that have sailed the River Dee over the past 2000 years of Chester's history.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- All ages
When
2-4pm
Where
Newstead Gallery
Admission
Free Drop in activity
Whats in here ?
Frame your own creative writing inspired by pictures in the art gallery
Suitable for
- Family friendly
When
2-4pm
Where
Art Gallery
Admission
Free drop in
Riverside Tales and Tails
Listen to a story of life by the riverbank and make your own riverbank animal to keep you company
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Especially for children
When
2-4pm
Where
Newstead Gallery
Admission
Free drop in session
Make a Civil War Standard
Where do your loyalties lie ? make a bold standard to show your support for the Cavaliers or Roundheads
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- All ages
When
2-4pm
Where
Newstead Gallery
Admission
Free drop in event
Punch & Judy
Punch & Judy professor Andrew Clarkson presents a magical experience with his live and authentic Victorian Punch and Judy Show. Now thats the way to do it!
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Especially for children
When
11am-1pm
Where
Lecture Theatre
Admission
FREE - Arrive early to avoid disappointment event held at 11am and 1pm
Meadows Walk
Join Adele Edwards for a leisurely stroll around the Meadows - Chester's beautiful riverside habitat. The gentle walk will take in the history and natural history of this significant site. Please ensure that you wear suitable walking footwear. Meet at the Middle of the suspension bridge at the Groves Chester
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- All ages
When
2-3pm
Where
Meet at middle of suspension bridge
Admission
Free event
Make a Fan
Create an ornate fan worthy of a lady in a Rembrandt painting
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- All ages
When
2-4pm
Where
Newstead Gallery
Admission
Free drop in session
Reel Them In
Make your own fish and pool to test your casting skills
Suitable for
- Family friendly
When
2-4pm
Where
Newstead Gallery
Admission
Free Drop in session
Ty Mawr - Summer Stroll
Riverside walk to Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, including time to look around the Trevor canal basin. Distance of 3.5 miles with moderate inclines along footpaths and grasslands, there may be stiles. Wear boots or sturdy shoes. Run by Wrexham Borough Council. for more information go to www.wrecham.gov.uk/countryside.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- All ages
When
1:30-3pm
Where
Ty Mawr Summer Stroll
Admission
details on www.wrexham.gov.uk/countryside
Discover the Castle Day
Meet some defenders of the castle try on some armour and make some castle related crafts.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
When
11am-4pm
Where
Around the Grosvenor Museum
Admission
Free Drop in
Mini Dig
Are you a budding archaeologist ? come along to the museum and unearth fabulous artefacts on our mini dig. Then find out what these objects can tell us about our part.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Especially for children
When
2-3pm
Where
Grosvenor Museum Newstead Gallery
Admission
Free drop in
What's Beneath our Feet ?
Discover what archaeologists have found on excavations in Chester and make a cross-section of the ground beneath the city streets complete with artefacts.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- All ages
When
2-4pm
Where
Grosvenor Museum Newstead Gallery
Admission
Free drop in session
Roman Myths and Legends
Drop in to discover more about two important characters in Roman mythology - Minerva and Hercules. Create a paper Minerva doll complete with armour and weapons or make your own Cerberus, the three headed dog defeated by Hercules.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Especially for children
When
2-4pm
Where
Grosvenor Museum Newstead Gallery
Admission
Free drop in session
Discover the Vikings and Anglo Saxons
Meet some colourful characters and make sone Viking and Saxon related crafts
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Especially for children
- All ages
When
11am-4pm
Where
Around the Grosvenor Museum
Admission
Free drop in
Make a Landscape
Create your own little bit of England with hills, trees, streams and animals
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Especially for children
When
2-4pm
Where
Grosvenor Museum Newstead Gallery
Admission
Free drop in session
Chester Cathedral Medieval Tours
Discover the Cathedral's rich and varied history on these special guided tours and see how the building developed over the centuries. The tour will unlock the history, architecture and significance of this great Catedral as well as looking in detail at some of its contents, including fine medieval woodwork which is full of hidden meaning. Your guide will point out some of te fascinating features that are so easy to miss without an expert on hand and of course, you can ask questions and find out about the building for yourself.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
When
From 11am
Where
Chester Cathedral
Admission
Tours at 11am and 3pm. £7.50 per person, £5 for Charisma Card holders, purchase a ticket at the Visitors' Entrance
Mapping Medieval Chester Calligraphy workshop for children
Join in a calligraphy workshop with artist Sue mallows and use calligraphy to create your own unique Medieval inspired bookmark. All materials provided.
Suitable for
- Especially for children
When
2-3pm
Where
Chester Library
Admission
Free book at Chester Library on 01244 977380
Mapping Medieval Chester - Website
Get free access to the new Mapping Medieval Chester web site and discover some of the local history resources that the Library holds.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
When
10:30am-1pm
Where
Chester Library
Admission
Free
Mapping Medieval Chester Calligraphy workshop
Join in a calligraphy workshop with artist Sue Mallows and discover how to write in Gothic script and make your own alphabet sampler to take home. All materials provided. Workshop for ADULTS
Suitable for
- Not suitable for children
When
10am-1pm
Where
Chester Library
Admission
£3.50 book at Chester Library (01244 977380)
Medieval Literary Tour of Chester
Take a Medieval tour of Chester with researchers on the Mapping Medieval Chester project, and discover how the literature of the time paints a picture of the city and the people who lived here.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
When
11am-12pm
Where
Around Chester City Centre
Admission
Free but booking essential at the Museum Shop on 01244 402005.
Water Tower Open
Come and discover the Medieval Water Tower which once stood in the River Dee to guard the city's flourishing port
(part of the Medieval Mapping Chester weekend)
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- All ages
When
11am-4pm
Where
Water Tower on Chester City Walls
Admission
Free drop in
Mapping Medieval Chester Festival
The Mapping Medieval Chester Project has been developed by Swansea University, Queens University Belfast, and King's College London - funded by the Arts and Humanities research Council. It explores how the landscape and urban layout produced a sense of identity for medieval inhabitants of the city, using literature, geography, archaeology and history. The project has produced a web-site featuring a multi layered map of Chester at the end of the Middle Ages, linked to medieval texts which also map the city. There will be a series of events around chester to celebrate its launch. www.medievalchester.ac.uk
Suitable for
- Family friendly
Where
Grosvenor Museum & St John's Church
Admission
Free - Lecture Theatre 2-3pm Grosvenor Museum
Readings from medieval texts relating to Chester. Display of photos relating to Medieval sites in Chester
Newstead Gallery Grosvenor Museum 2-4 explore the Museum's medieval collections with the Keepers see original documents.
St John's Church next to the amphitheatre 11-4pm
Meet some Medieval pilgrims & discover more about their life & travels
The People of Roman Chester
Chester is famous for its Roman remains but what do we know about the people who lived here during the Roman period ? This talk will look at evidence uncovered in the city and what it can tell us about Roman Cestrians
When
From 2pm
Where
Grosvenor Museum Lecture Theatre
Admission
FREE
Heritage Open Days
As part of this free nationwide initiative linking all Civic Trust groups the Grosvenor Museum will celebrate with children's activities looking at the life of Robert Newstead and also symbols of Victorian Civic Pride. At the Water Tower on the City walls you will be able to meet some Medieval characters and find out more about the Tower in the Middle Ages.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Especially for children
- All ages
When
11am-4pm
Where
Grosvenor Museum & Water Tower
Admission
Free activities at Grosvenor Museum 1-3.30pm
Free entry to Water Tower 11-4pm
Art Gallery Tour
Discover a rich array of paintings, sculpture and furniture scanning half a millennium of art. A special highlight will be the superb paintings by Rembrandt's workshop and Stubbs on loan from the Duke of Westminster, seen alongside the museum's own collection of British and Continental art
When
2-3pm
Where
Grosvenor Museum Art Gallery
Admission
Free
Everyday Miracles: Dutch Painting of the Golden Age
A fresh look at the artists of the Dutch Republic, examining portraits genre painting, the newly perfected art of landscape painting, still life and religious art. Featured artists include Rembrandt, Jan Steen, Frans Hals, Gabriel Metsu, Willem Kalf, Pieter de Hooch, and of course, Jan Vermeer. We will also look out some of the more idiosynchratic characters among the 'Little Masters' and their unpredictable works.
When
1:30-3pm
Where
Grosvenor Museum Lecture Theatre
Admission
£3 pay on the door
Charles Darwin
2009 is the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his book 'On the Origin of Species'. Come along and hear about his life travels and research.
When
2-3pm
Where
Grosvenror Museum Lecture Theatre
Admission
FREE
27 Grosvenor Street
Chester
Cheshire
CH1 2DD
England
Website
Telephone
01244 402033
Fax
01244 347587
27 Grosvenor Street
Chester
Cheshire
CH1 2DD
England
Website
Telephone
01244 402033
Fax
01244 347587
