Grosvenor Museum
27 Grosvenor Street
Chester
Cheshire
CH1 2DD
England
Website
ruth.marshall@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Telephone
General Switchboard
01244 972197
Central Office
01244 972109
Education/School Bookings
01244 72120
Fax
01244 347587
The Grosvenor Museum was founded in 1885 and its origins are linked to the Chester Society of Natural Science Literature & Art by Charles Kingsley in 1871, and to Chester Archaeological Society.
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 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times - and in general children should always be accompanied.
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, Religion, World Cultures, Trade and Commerce
Key artists and exhibits
- Roman Inscribed and Sculpted Stones
- Varied Art Collection - medieval to modern - all mediums
- Extensive Chester Silver collection including Delamere Horn
- Period Room displays from the 16th century onwards in the Period House
- Louise Rayner watercolours - not always on display due to light exposure
- Charles Kingsley - Natural history collections
- Victorian & Edwardian costume
- Agricola lead pig & other Roman artefacts - glass/jewellery/Samian Ware
- Willoughby Gardiner coin collection & other coins, medals & tokens
- Medieval shoes
Fifties Frocks: Female Fashion from the 1950s
This small exhibition shows day and evening dresses, cocktail and dance dresses, ranging from Parisian Haute couture of Dior and Jacques Fath to those made in Wilmslow and Liverpool. With their nipped in waists, full skirts and fitted bodices they epitomise the elegance, glamour and femininity of fashion's golden age.
Suitable for
- 18+
- 16-17
- 14-15
Where
Grosvenor Museum Costume Gallery
A Vision of England: Etchings by William Monk
William Monk (1863-1937) was one of the most significant artists to be born in Chester, and a highly respected figure in the British Etching Revival. This movement saw the rebirth of etching as an artistically creative form of printmaking, and the exhibition demonstrates Monk's technical brilliance. His prints range from quaint corners of Chester to historic colleges, and London life.
Suitable for
- 14-15
- 16-17
- 18+
Where
Grosvenor Museum Exhibition Gallery Two
Discover a Medieval City: Places, Voices, Journeys
This exhibition explores life in medieval Chester. It investigates the role of religion and the city's significance as a place of pilgrimage. It looks at identity, with everyday items such as buckles and brooches, cooking pots and cauldrons. It uncovers the role of the guilds in trade, along with ornaments of the wealthy such as jewellery and tableware. Most importantly, it displays an array of magnificent documents which paint a picture of Chester, its citizens and visitors, including manuscripts from St Werburgh's Abbey, the scripts of the Mystery Plays and medieval poetry.
Suitable for
- 14-15
- 18+
- 16-17
- 11-13
Where
Grosvenor Museum Exhibition Gallery One
Make a Medieval Pilgrim Badge
Create your own pilgrim badge as a souvenir of your visit to the medieval Chester exhibition
Suitable for
- Especially for children
- Family friendly
When
2-4pm
Where
Grosvenor Museum Newstead Gallery
Make a Medieval Pouch
Create your own medieval pouch or purse to keep your money safe and secure
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Especially for children
When
2-4pm
Where
grosvenor museum newstead gallery
Discover Medieval Chester
Meet some colourful characters and learn more about life in medieval Chester
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11am-4pm
Where
Grosvenor Museum Newstead Gallery
Try some Medieval Writing
Use a quill and ink and try your hand at a calligraphy letter
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Especially for children
When
2-4pm
Where
Grosvenor Museum Newstead Gallery
Decorate a Tile Medieval Style!
Decorate a tile to take home with some beautiful medieval designs
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2-4pm
Where
Grosvenor Museum Newstead Gallery
Pilgrimage in Medieval Cheshire
Chester was a centre for pilgrimage with the Shrine of St Werburgh and the Holy Rood of Chester. come and learn more about pilgrimage in the medieval period
Suitable for
- Family friendly
When
2-3pm
Where
Pilgrimage in Medieval Cheshire
Merrie Musicke with the Minstrels
Join PIVA, Chester's own Time Bandits, and many other musicians for lively music from medieval times performed on a range of period instruments in the atmospheric setting of Chester's oldest church
Suitable for
- 14-15
- 18+
- 16-17
- 11-13
When
7:30-9:30pm
Where
St John's Church Chester (next to the Amphitheatre)
Admission
Tickets £5, available on the door or reserve a place by emailing
grosvenor.museum@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Minstrels' Court
Discover an ancient tradition, where the minstrels of Cheshire were given their licences to play for the year ahead, with music, dance storytelling and lots of characters bringing medieval Chester to life
Suitable for
- Any age
When
10:30am-5pm
Where
St Johns Church, next to the Amphitheatre, Chester
Discover Chester's Medieval Towers
Discover the Water Tower which once stood in the medieval port of Chester but now sits on dry land, along with the medieval Phoenix Tower, renamed after King Charles I who watched skirmishing from the Battle of Rowton Moor here.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11am-4pm
Where
King Charles Tower and Water Tower on the City Walls
Life in Medieval Chester
Join Jane Laughton author of 'Life in a Late medieval city' and be introduced to some townsmen and women who lived in Chester in the 15th century. Learn where they lived, how they made their living, what they ate what they wore and how they got on !
When
2-3pm
Discover Chester's Medieval Towers
Discover the Water Tower which once stood in the medieval port of Chester but now sits on dry land, along with the medieval Phoenix Tower, renamed after King Charles I who watched skirmishing from the Battle of Rowton Moor here.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11am-4pm
Where
King Charles Tower and Water Tower on the City Walls
Calligraphy Workshop for Adults
Based on writing from the medieval manuscripts displayed in the Medieval exhibition have an opportunity to try calligraphy and illumination using gold leaf
Suitable for
- 18+
When
10am-1pm
Admission
£5 materials included, book your place at the museum shop or ring 01244 972112 and pay on the day
Mystery Play City Tour
Discover the city of the Mystery Plays with a member of the Guild of Chester Tour Guides
Suitable for
- 14-15
- 16-17
- 18+
- 11-13
When
11am-12:30pm
Admission
£6, £5 concession book your place at the museum shop or ring 01244 972112 and pay on the day
Medieval Chester City Tour
We think of Chester as a Roman City but much of its medieval past remains. Discover this history with a member of the Guild of Chester Tour Guides
Suitable for
- 18+
- 14-15
- 16-17
When
11am-12:30pm
Admission
£6, £5 concession book your place at the museum shop or ring 01244 972112 and pay on the day
Discover Medieval Chester City Tour
Meet the academic team who have worked on Discover Medieval Chester and join them for a city tour. Meet at the Grosvenor Museum
Suitable for
- 18+
- 16-17
When
2-4pm
Admission
£5, £4 concessions book & pay at the museum shop or ring 01244 972112
Discover Medieval Chester: Lecture
Join Professor Catherine Clarke from the University of Southampton to explore the medieval sources & modern tools used by the 'Discover Medieval Chester' research team
Suitable for
- 18+
When
7-9pm
Admission
£5, £4 concession book and pay at the museum shop or ring 01244 972112
Mapping Workshop
Workshop led by Dr Keith Lilley from Queen's University Belfast reveals how maps contain many hidden histories of medieval Chester
When
10am-12pm
Admission
£5, £4 concessions - book and pay at the museum shop or ring 01244 972112
Medieval Chester at the Water Tower
Discover some medieval characters and the history of this tower at a time when it sat beside the port of Chester at the Water Tower
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11am-4pm
Mystery Play City Tour
Discover the city of the Mystery Plays with a member of the Guild of Chester Tour Guides
Suitable for
- 14-15
- 16-17
- 18+
- 11-13
When
11am-12:30pm
Admission
£6, £5 concession book your place at the museum shop or ring 01244 972112 and pay on the day
Discover Medieval Chester
Discover some medieval characters and learn more about life as it would have been in the city with activities at the museum and in the castle
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11am-4pm
Medieval Chester City Tour
We think of Chester as Roman, but much if its medieval past remains. discover more with a member of the Guild of Chester Tour Guides
Suitable for
- Family friendly
When
2-3:30pm
Admission
£6, £5 concessions - book your place at the museum shop or ring 01244 972112 and pay on the day
Piggery Jokery by Hand to Mouth Theatre
Full of history & fun this unique puppet theatre will entertain you. Grosvenor Museum lecture theatre
Suitable for
- Any age
When
12:30-1pm
Admission
Collect tickets from reception for each performance as places are limited
Piggery Jokery by Hand to Mouth Theatre
Full of history & fun this unique puppet theatre will entertain you. Grosvenor Museum lecture theatre
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2-2:30pm
Admission
Collect tickets from reception for each performance as places are limited
Piggery Jokery by Hand to Mouth Theatre
Full of history & fun this unique puppet theatre will entertain you. Grosvenor Museum lecture theatre
Suitable for
- Any age
When
11-11:30am
Admission
Collect tickets from reception for each performance as places are limited
Cheshire Myths and Legends
Join our medieval storyteller as he tells you mysterious tales and folklore from Cheshire
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Especially for children
When
2-3pm
Defending a Medieval City
Join some colourful medieval characters and discover more about unrest and defence in medieval Chester
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Especially for children
When
11am-4pm
Discover Chester's Medieval Towers
Discover the Water Tower which once stood in the medieval port of Chester but now sits on dry land, along with the medieval Phoenix Tower, renamed after King Charles I who watched skirmishing from the Battle of Rowton Moor here.
Suitable for
- Any age
Where
King Charles Tower and Water Tower on the City Walls
Trouvere - The Instrumentarium
A musical history tour with Trouvere Medieval Minstrels. Try an amazing array of musical instruments and discover the sounds of another age.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
When
11am-3:30pm
Admission
Free but please collect your ticket from reception for each performance as places are limited Four different performances start at 11am - a tour through time Saxon to Tudor Music, then at 12.30pm Fanfares and noisy music!, next 2pm - Stepping Out - music and dance in the Middle Ages and finally 3.30pm Sweet Harmony the gentler side of medieval music
The Journey Man - 'Lord, have Mercia!'
Ever wonder what those saints did to be remembered by the churches in Cheshire ? Listen to the incredible but inspiring stories of saints in Mercia
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Especially for children
When
1-2pm
Admission
free - just turn up - three sessions - 11-12noon, 1-2pm, and 2.30-3.30pm
The Journey Man - 'Lord, have Mercia!'
Ever wonder what those saints did to be remembered by the churches in Cheshire ? Listen to the incredible but inspiring stories of saints in Mercia
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Especially for children
When
2:30-3:30pm
Admission
free - just turn up - three sessions - 11-12noon, 1-2pm, and 2.30-3.30pm
The Journey Man - 'Lord, have Mercia!'
Ever wonder what those saints did to be remembered by the churches in Cheshire ? Listen to the incredible but inspiring stories of saints in Mercia
Suitable for
- Family friendly
- Especially for children
When
11am-12pm
Admission
free - just turn up - three sessions - 11-12noon, 1-2pm, and 2.30-3.30pm
Richard and Elizabeth York - Medieval Music
From tabors to bagpipes, harps to hurdy gurdy - come and listen to a huge range of medieval instruments and hear more about their history
Suitable for
- 14-15
- 11-13
- 7-10
- 5-6
- 16-17
- 18+
When
2:30-3:30pm
Admission
Free but please collect your tickets from reception as each performance has limited spaces - Grosvenor Museum Lecture Theatre
Richard and Elizabeth York - Medieval Music
From tabors to bagpipes, harps to hurdy gurdy - come and listen to a huge range of medieval instruments and hear more about their history
Suitable for
- 14-15
- 11-13
- 7-10
- 5-6
- 16-17
- 18+
When
1-2pm
Admission
Free but please collect your tickets from reception as each performance has limited spaces - Grosvenor Museum Lecture Theatre
Richard and Elizabeth York - Medieval Music
From tabors to bagpipes, harps to hurdy gurdy - come and listen to a huge range of medieval instruments and hear more about their history
Suitable for
- 14-15
- 11-13
- 7-10
- 5-6
- 16-17
- 18+
When
11am-12pm
Admission
Free but please collect your tickets from reception as each performance has limited spaces - Grosvenor Museum Lecture Theatre
Roman Tours
We now have armour which the children can wear whilst on the Roman Soldier guided tours. This gives scope for the imagination and allows the children to feel more involved in the experience.
How to obtain
To obtain further information and to book tours please ring Lorna Kernahan Moore on 01244 972120, Kate Harland on 01244 972066 or Fran Bray on 01244 972089
Teacher Packs
Teaching Packs
How to obtain
Ring 01244 972120 and ask for Lorna Kernahan Moore to make a school booking, or for the Education department call 01244 972066 to speak to Kate Harland, or Fran Bray on 01244 972089.
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