Newtown Textile Museum

5-7 Commercial Street
Newtown
Powys
SY16 2BL
Wales

Website

powysmuseums.powys.gov.uk/English/newtown.htm

E-mail

Curator

powysland@powys.gov.uk

Telephone

Museum

01686 622024

Curator

01938 554656

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.
Library icon Study area icon Wheelchair access icon

The Textile Museum is situated at 5-7 Commercial Street in Newtown.The building is a fine example of a typical early 19th century weaving shop. It consists of two floors of six (now three) back-to-back cottages and two large rooms on the second and third floors running the full length of the building. The six cottages would have housed a family each. Most members of these families would have worked in the weaving shop on the two floors above either as handloom weavers or with associated work.

In 1962 the late Major Peter Lewis of Newtown formed a committee to purchase and preserve this building and to create a record of the history of the woollen industry in Newtown. Volunteers worked hard to create a textile museum which was opened to the public in 1967. In 1990 the museum charity was transferred to Powys County Council. At the time of transfer the conditions of the galleries, the collection and the displays were not meeting the professional standards of a modern museum.

During 1995-1996 the museum was restored and renovated, resulting in a venue meeting the standards of a modern museum in terms of environment, care of collections and interpretation. In 1999 a National Heritage Lottery grant made it possible to carry out conservation and refurbishment work to the exterior of the whole building, including restoration and replacement of windows and doors and improvements to the courtyard and access to the museum.

Venue Type:

Museum, Historic house or home

 Opening hours

OPEN MAY - SEPTEMBER on the following days from 2.00 p.m. - 5.00 p.m:
Monday
Tuesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Bank Holiday Mondays (except Easter).

We are open all year for pre-arranged school visits. Telephone 01938 554656. Entrance for school parties is free.

Closed: October-April

 Admission charges

Adults: £1.00
Concessions: £0.50
Children and Powys residents: free

Discounts

  • National Trust
  • Museums Association
  • International Council of Museums
  • Historic Scotland
  • English Heritage
  • Cadw: Welsh Historic Monuments
  • British Association of Friends of Museums
 General services and facilities
  • Brochure or leaflet available with directions to museum
  • Foreign language leaflet or brochure available
  • Information point provided
 Children and families
  • Events and resources for children and families
 Disability access
  • Toilets for disabled
  • Wheelchair access to some public areas
 Schools services and facilities
  • Direct teaching services for schools
  • Member of staff available with responsibility for education
  • Primary school education service available
  • Secondary school education service available
  • Education facilities available
 Research and adult learning
  • Library with public access
  • Research facilities for academics

5-7 Commercial Street
Newtown
Powys
SY16 2BL
Wales

Website

powysmuseums.powys.gov.uk/English/newtown.htm

E-mail

Curator

powysland@powys.gov.uk

Telephone

Museum

01686 622024

Curator

01938 554656

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.

Collection details

Costume and Textiles, Land Transport, Social History

Collections services

  • Object identification and/or written enquiry service

5-7 Commercial Street
Newtown
Powys
SY16 2BL
Wales

Website

powysmuseums.powys.gov.uk/English/newtown.htm

E-mail

Curator

powysland@powys.gov.uk

Telephone

Museum

01686 622024

Curator

01938 554656

All information is supplied by the venues or providers themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.
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