You can now follow the Old House Museum on Twitter, Facebook, TrailQuest and Flickr to find out the latest news and developments:

 Oral History

Please click on the links below to listen to a sample of local oral history collected by Sara Haslam and Marian Barker, featuring John Cooper and James 'Arthur' Monaghan. 

ORAL HISTORY - John Cooper

ORAL HISTORY - James 'Arthur' Monaghan

While your on our Youtube page why not check out the promotional animation for the Timeline Workshops

Old House Museum picks up two awards!

Bakewell Old House Museum is thrilled to have won two awards at the Derbyshire Heritage Awards:-

 Work with Children and Young People

Judges Special Award for Completion of the HLF Project

A big THANK YOU to everyone for their help and support in achieving this great honour.  

Rat Pack Trail - End of Year Winners 

We are delighted to announce the winners of the last Rat Pack Trail this year: -

ELISE CHARLTON, who named one of our rats SIR SPRATINGTON.

'This was great fun looking in all places for rats hiding.'

Elise Charlton, aged 10.

EVE CIVIL, who named one of our rats NIBBLES.

Rat Pack Trail - September's Winner

We are delighted to announce the winner of September's Rat Pack Trail: -

EDWARD RHYS WIBBERLEY, aged 7,  who named one of our rats THE GERM BRINGER.

Rat Pack Trail - August's Winners 

We are delighted to announce the winners of August's Rat Pack Trail: -

OSIAN and IOAN BEYNON, who named one of our rats RATSCALION.

'We enjoyed finding the rats in each room. Osian's favourite part was dressing up and Ioan loved the doll's house!'

Osian, aged 4 and Ioan, aged 2.

LEWIS BAKER, who named one of our rats DAVID CAMERAT.

'I really enjoyed visiting the museum and doing both quizzes. I will come again. Thanks.'

Lewis Baker, aged 10.

MAT MASLENFLUNT, who named our rats the SKIPPING SCURRIERS

Please get in touch to claim your prize.

JESSICA ROBINSON, who named one of our rats RAT-A-CHEWYOMNI-VORACIOUS

 Rat Pack Trail - July's Winner

We are delighted to announce the winner of July's Rat Pack Trail: -

GABRIELLE CHLOE STOTT, who named one of our rats TILLY TWIRLY TAIL.

'I really enjoyed the Rat Trail, and especially choosing a name for the rat, it was good fun. I really enjoyed my visit to Bakewell Museum.'

Gabrielle Chloe Stott, aged 9.

 Rat Pack Trail - June's Winners

 We are delighted to announce the winners of June's Rat Pack Trail: -

 JACK NEWELL, who named one of our rats NIGEL THADDEUS SILVERPELT II.

' Fun and full of surprises, The Rat Trail is good for kids who need to test their adventurous side.'

Jack Newell, aged 11.

 Rat Pack Trail - May's Winners

 We are delighted to announce the winners of May's Rat Pack Trail: -

 ANNABEL RUCKLEDGE, who named one of our rats ARISTOC RAT.

' I really liked the Rat Trail and thought the museum was excellent, especially the old toilet!'

Annabel Ruckledge, aged 7.

 Code Breakers - Night at The Museum 14th May 7.30pm

 Despite the inclement weather over 60 people attended a night of nostalgia at the atmospheric Bakewell Old House Museum. Guests  were dressed in gorgeous 1940's fashion and welcomed by the music of Glen Miller, before helping themselves to the fantastic buffet. David Westwood gave a excellent and informative talk about code breaking. Our Bletchley veterans were on hand, giving the evening even greater grandeur. A big thanks to all those who took part in the event. It was a great success!

Rat Pack Trail - April's Winners

 We are delighted to announce the winners of April's Rat Pack Trail: -

 JOSEPH GREAVES, who named one of our rats GARDEROBE GORDON.

' I liked doing the rat trail it was great fun finding them. I enjoyed your museum and I have told all my friends about it too. Thank you.'

Joseph Greaves, aged 10.

Code Breakers - Night at The Museum 14th May 7.30pm

 The night will be a fabulous look at Bletchley Park with memories from two Bletchley verterans, who are amoungst our volunteers.

 Also, David Westwood, a retired solder and author of U-Boat War will be attending the Code Breakers event on 14th May. He will give a talk about 'Ultra' a German Encoding system and show how decrypts of German secret communications were used to benefit the conduct of the war in the Atlantic. In addition, he will discuss how information of great importance was disregarded. David has a small publishing and reprinting company near Buxton that reprints military historical material on the behalf of the British Ministry of Defence. His PhD thesis was an examination of the German U-Boat Arm 1939 - 1945.

 Why not come along, croon to Vera Lyn and dance the night away to Glen Miller. Enjoy sumptious food from the catering team all washed down with a pint of Thornbridge best brew or fine wine on tap.

 There are still tickets available for this event. Contact Anita Spencer on 01629 813642 or call in at the museum.

 Adult tickets £9  Children £6

Red Ribbon Time at the Old House Museum

Time: 7.30 pm on a rather rainy evening.

Place: the Old House Museum, Bakewell

Occasion: The end of a 3-year project, funded largely by the Heritage Lottery, culminating in the opening of the new Industrial Gallery by Lord Edward Manners.

About 50 guests, including Lord Edward, building contractors, the Chair of the East Midlands Lottery Fund, Town and County Councillors, members of the Peak District National Park, a representative from Thornbridge Brewery who have sponsored 64,000 new museum leaflets, as well as the museum committee and other friends gathered in the new courtyard to enjoy a glass of wine and canapes before the opening ceremony.

Seated under the splendid new awning, which kept off the spasmodic but heavy showers, guests were welcomed by Jan Stetka, Chair of the Bakewell and District Historical Society which owns and manages the museum.  Jan expressed thanks for the Heritage Lottery funding, for the Sustainable Development grant from  PDNP and for help and advice from individual members of those organisations.  HLF require recipients of a grant to raise 10% of the money themselves through volunteer hours.  In the museum's case this meant 300 days of volunteer effort.  There are approximately 100 volunteers who give their time to the museum in various ways: 36 of them became involved in the project.  The number of hours clocked up by these people eventually added up to 1000.  Jan (a volunteer himself) congratulated them on this achievement and then handed over to George Challenger, Chair of the museum committee, who has worked as a volunteer at the museum for 40 years!

George made brief reference to the history of the museum: the Tudor house was rescued from imminent demolition by the newly-formed Historical Society in 1954 and  given to the Society by its owners, Bernard and Violet Harrison, to be used as as museum.  The  first room was opened in 1959 and by 1870 most of the house had become accessible to visitors.  Referring to the current development George explained that the new courtyard, gallery and sculpture were a major part of the project  but that much other work had been done inside the original house.  This included a new  office, new kitchen, environmentally-controlled store, rewiring the whole building and lime-plastering the parlour and parlour closet.  He described the project as being of a 'DIY' nature because of the large involvement  of volunteers instead of paid contractors wherever possible.  He paid tribute to Anita Spencer, the museum manager, whose hard work, enthusiasm and cheerfulness contribute so much to the museum's success.  He also mentioned the museum's community involvement, linking with the Parish Church over the restoration of the Viking Age sculptures, the history trail to the Thornbridge Brewery and, latterly, the connection with Haddon Hall.  Our special guest, Lord Edward Manners, has become Patron of the Historical Society.  George then spoke of the late Alan Smith, an active member  of the Society and museum who conceived the original idea for an Industrial Gallery.  Sadly both he and his wife Maureen, also a keen  supporter of the museum, died before they could see his ideas take shape.  The Historical Society has dedicated a garden bench to their memory.  George then asked their daughter to carry out another of Alan's ideas which was to ring the Lumford Bell for all Bakewell to hear that the project was complete!

Lord Edward then spoke warmly about the museum and  the hard work of so many people which had resulted in the successful completion of the project.  He congratulated everyone involved saying that he was delighted to be the new Patron of the Society and hoped for future links between it and Haddon Hall.  He then cut the red ribbon across the gallery and declared it open.

By this time dusk had fallen but the courtyard was lit so guests lingered on, chatting and enjoying the food and  wine in convivial atmosphere.

The museum is located on Cunningham Place, behind Bakewell Church.
Access is from North Church Street or Church Lane.  The museum is a short 10 minute walk from Bakewell Town Centre.

Buses No2, 177 and 178 leave Bath Gardens stopping on South Church Street.  It is a short 3 minute walk to the museum along Church Lane.

Follow us on Twitter

check out our You Tube Channel

...and our photostream on Flickr 

Local Links

Bakewell Church

Belper Mill

Crich Tramway Museum

Derbyshire County Council

Derbyshire Heritage

Haddon Hall

iknow-peak district

Visit Peak District

Bakewell Online

November 26th/27th - Tideswell Male Voice Choir 2pm

December 3rd/4th - 10th/11th

The atmospheric Old House will be beautifully and lushly decorated in Victorian Style.  Childrens quiz, bran tub, music and festive fayre. 11am - 4pm.

Click the link to watch a performance by Tideswell Male Voice Choir at the museum on 26th Nov. 

The Timeline Workshops

FREE for Children, Adults Admission £3

11am to 4pm, lunch 1 to 2pm

(please bring your own pack lunch)

Tudor You Think You Are?

Tuesday 25th October (Booking essential)

Take a trip back to Tudor times, with Tudor costumes, activities, music and games.

Learn how to make Tussie Mussies and Pomanders

Have your portrait taken in our Tudor photo booth

Meet our resident ghostly tax collector!

Trouble at Mill!

Thursday 27th October (Booking essential)

Meet Richard Arkwright and discover the dark secerts of his Mills, and wonder about his Wigs!

Dress up in Victorian costume and have your photo portrait taken

Make your own mill wheel inspired woven wall hanging

Play with Victorian games and toys in the courtyard

A History of You

Saturday 29th October (Drop in)

Create your own museum story...

Bring photos, objects and personal items from your own or your family's past

Share stories from school or a holiday, or bring in a favourite toy

Tell tales from your parents, grandparents or friends

Make your own Museum display using your items

Digital cameras, Flip video cameras and sound equipment will be available.

Please bring your own camera if you have one.

Photos, video and sound recordings will be used on our website with your permission.

To book a place or find out more contact Anita Spencer on 01629 813642

Check out the promotional animation for the Timeline Workshops

Halloween Fun with the Ratty, Batty Trail.

October 21st - 31st

Check out the animated promo for this event: -

Ratty Batty Trail 

Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ALT) Tour of Bakewell Old House Museum

Select the link below to view a video of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ALT) Tour of Bakewell Old House Museum on 22nd September 2011, lead by John Cooper.

ALT Guided Tour 

 Previous Events

A Night at the Museum - "Codebreakers"

Saturday 14th May at the Old House Museum

The wartime years of the 1940's were a time of heroism, courage and stoicism. Those of us who are too young to remember that time look back at it with gratitude, respect and admiration for those who endured it.

Tucked away in the Buckinghamshire countryside was the now famous Bletchley Park where gifted mathematicians such as Alan Turing and dozens of Wrens, recruited from far and wide, worked tirelessly night and day to crack the German radio codes encrypted on the Enigma machine. Their work, shrouded in the utmost secrecy, was judged to have shortended the war by two years.

We are privileged to have some of those ex-Wrens who were part of the Bletchley operation living here in Bakewell.

On the evening of Saturday 14th May at the Old House Museum we shall be looking back on those days with an evening of memories and celebration. To a background of '40's' music there will be supper provided by our wonderful in-house catering team (don't worry - they have flatly refused to cook wartime food!) and a chance to talk to our Bletchley Park ladies who will bring photos of Bletchley and the code-breaking computer.

Why not come along and visit or re-visit those days? Perhaps you have photos of your own or wartime memories to share? It would be fun to wear appropriate costume!

There will be a fun raffle; prizes gratefully accepted.

Tickets: Adult £9              Children £6

Call Anita at the museum 01629 813642 for more information and to book your ticket.

Events 2010

Missed out on our folky event in May? 

check out the movie magic of 'Folk Beer and Skittles - Cheese and Pickles':

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkqCpjE9RJ0

                 October 9th -'Tales From The Darker Side' with Dr Nicolas Grimoire - Ticket only event. A unique performance of dark and Gothic magic combining psychological illusion, mind-manipulation and spooky storytelling.  With your help the doctor uncovers unsettling stories from the past illustrated by arcane objects such as a weapon used by Japanese Ninja warriors, crystal ball and a pack of cards once used by a hanging judge to condem men and women to the gallows!   During the entertainment someones heart will stop!  Could that someone be you?  Due to the intense nature of the stories this show is only suitable for people over 14.

The evening begins at 7pm until 10pm Dr Grimoire will perform his show twice at 7.30pm and 9pm.  If you are waiting for the show to begin please enjoybrowsing around this wonderful atmospheric Tudor building.  Tickets are allocated per performance so please book well in advance stating performance preference.   Adults £10 - 14 - 18yr olds £7.50.  01629 813642 - Anita Spencer.

  Sat 23^rd October

Spooky Shadow Puppets &

Stop Motion Animation Film Making Workshops

Join in the thrilling, spine chilling fun and ghostly goings on at the Old House Museum. Help us to create a special spooky film using shadow puppets and stop animation in the atmospheric Solar.

Workshop times:    11am-12pm,   1pm-2pm

 Workshops suitable for children aged 8-12

Tickets £4.50 including refreshments

Advance booking essential  

&

Junior

Membership!

(A passport to 500 years of history)

Hello and welcome to our new 

Rat Pack & Junior Membership page...

...here you can find information about our Rat Pack trail, competition winners and other fun stuff!

 Click here for a Cool Animation!        

 The Rat Pack

 We're overrun with rodents! The rats are on the loose, and have run riot around the museum.

Can you help us find them?                   

Hunt them down in the nooks and crannies of the museum and they will give you a nugget of Old House knowledge or a random ratty fact.

Here’s a little rat fact to wet your appetite!

Victorian Cooks definitely didn’t want rats in their cupboards. A popular way to keep rats at bay was to use Rat Poison, commonly made from Arsenic.

Unfortunately Arsenic was also deadly to humans, and as chemists sold Arsenic as Rat Poison it was very easy to get hold of…and it soon became the weapon of choice for Victorian murderers!

Competition

When you’ve finished the Rat Pack Trail at the Old House Museum, why not have a go at naming our Rats!  

You can name a Rat or come up with a name for our entire Rat Pack… all the names will be entered for judging and each month the winners will be announced here.

Winners will receive a delightfully ratty prize…

Don’t miss out and make sure you enter this month's competition! Come to the museum and ask at reception for a Rat Facts Trail Pack.

Rat Pack Trail - End of Year Winners 

We are delighted to announce the winners of the last Rat Pack Trail this year: -

ELISE CHARLTON, who named one of our rats SIR SPRATINGTON.

'This was great fun looking in all places for rats hiding.'

Elise Charlton, aged 10.

EVE CIVIL, who named one of our rats NIBBLES.

Rat Pack Trail - September's Winner 

We are delighted to announce the winner of September's Rat Pack Trail:-

EDWARD RHYS WIBBERLEY, aged 7, who named one of our rats THE GERM BRINGER.

Edward, aged 7.

Rat Pack Trail - August's Winners 

We are delighted to announce the winners of August's Rat Pack Trail:-

OSIAN AND IOAN BEYNON, who named one of our rats RATSCALION.

' We really enjoyed finding the rats in each room. Osian's favourite part was dressing up and Ioan loved the doll's house!'

Osian, aged 4 and Ioan, aged 2.

LEWIS BAKER, who named one of our rats DAVID CAMERAT.

' I really enjoyed visiting the museum and doing both quizzes. I will come again. Thanks'

 Lewis Baker, aged 10.

MAT MASLENFLUNT, who named our rats the SKIPPING SCURRIERS.

Please get in touch to claim your prize.

JESSICA ROBINSON, who named one of our rats RAT-A-CHEWYOMNI-VORACIOUS.

Rat Pack Trail - July's Winner

We are delighted to announce the winner of July's Rat Pack Trail:-

GABRIELLE CHLOE STOTT, who named one of our rats TILLY TWIRLY TAIL.

' I really enjoyed the Rat Trail, and especially choosing a name for the rat, it was good fun I really enjoyed my visit to the Bakewell Museum.'

Gabrielle Chloe Stott, aged 9

Rat Pack Trail - June's Winner

We are delighted to announce the winners of June's Rat Pack Trail: -

JACK NEWELL, (all the way from Phoenix, Arizona!) who named one of our rats NIGEL THADDEUS SILVERPELT II.

' Fun and full of surprises, The Rat Trail is good for kids who need to test their adventurous side.'

Jack Newell, aged 11

Rat Pack Trail - May's Winner

We are delighted to announce the winners of May's Rat Pack Trail: -

ANNABEL RUCKLEDGE, who named one of our rats ARISTOC RAT.

' I really liked the Rat Trail and thought the museum was excellent, especially the old toilet!'

Annabel Ruckledge, aged 7

Rat Pack Trail - April's Winner

We are delighted to announce the winners of April's Rat Pack Trail: -

JOSEPH GREAVES, who named one of our rats GARDEROBE GORDON.

' I liked doing the rat trail it was great fun finding them. I enjoyed your museum and I have told all my friends about it too. Thank you.'

Joseph Greaves, aged 10

- Guided tours of the museum and it's collection.

- Historic walks around Bakewell with a tour of the museum.  

- Textile tours : Our very popular behind the scenes tours with the textile team can be tailored to suit your groups interests.  Peep into the museums stunning collection of costumes, textiles, underwear, lace, embroideries and samplers. 

Refreshments can be made available by request.

Please contact the Museum for further details and prices

Tel: 01629 813642 or call Anita: 07539 979913

To download a party booking form PDF click here

Lino cut illustration by Maja Mihajlovic

Explore our facinating social history collection which offers a wealth of learning opportunities, and reflects the impact of pivotal events of the last 500 years on Bakewell and the surrounding area.

Step into the past and experience how we used to live by discovering massive open fireplaces, beamed ceilings, a Tudor toilet, an intriguing collection of local artefacts, tools, toys and period costumes - and much more!

Our exhibits link with cross-curricular Key Stage 1&2 topics and learning objectives and can accomodate local history projects, and other themes such as World War I and II, the Victorians and the Tudors. Learn about Bakewell's industrial past in our new industrial gallery, which ties the Museum with Lumford Mill, Richard Arkwright and the industrial revolution.

Trails 

Planning a visit? Discover the rich history and hidden secrets of each room at the Old House Musuem by following our special trails...learn about a Victorian family and how they lived, see if you can find a Tudor toilet, and uncover the story of the Mad Elephant of Bakewell?! 

Get ready to discover Bakewell Museum

Download a Trail before your visit! 

Museum Trail           Tudor Trail

New for 2011!! 

Rat Pack Trail!!

Victorian Laundry Days 

We currently offer a Victorian Laundry session for Key Stage 1&2 school groups, set in our atmospheric Victorian kitchen. Pupils are given a Victorian alter ego, are dressed in period costume, and are allowed to handle museum exhibits, creating an authentic and enjoyable washday experience.

If you would like to book a school visit, or for more information - please contact the museum on 01629 813642

To help you plan your visit, a risk assessment for a school/group visit to the museum is available. This is designed to act as a guide to help you fill out your own risk assessments before visiting the museum...we hope it helps!

 Victorian Toys and Games

Play with authentic Victorian games and toys in our Courtyard, including Skipping Ropes, Hop Scotch, Tic Tac Toe, Whip and Top and Hula Hoops. Please ask museum staff if you would like to have a go!

 Workshops & Digital Media

We are keen to combine traditional methods of learning with new digital technology, such as film-making and audio slide shows using Flip Video recording and sound bites.

Contact the museum to find out more, or go to our Facebook page for information about the latest activities available.

Spooky Shadow Puppets and Stop Motion Animation Film Workshops - Sat 23rd October 2010

See what we got up to for Halloween - have a look at our Gallery and videos on You Tube

 Resource Box & Model

(Key stage 1 and 2 – History, Geography, D&T, Art & Design, Science and Literacy)

'Changing Space at Cunningham Place'

For more information click here

The Schools Resource Box is available to loan free of charge from the museum all year, for up to two weeks.

Please contact the museum if you would like to book and borrow it.

For more educational resources from fantastic East Midlands museums check out the Learn with Museums Website 

• Atmospheric beamed rooms with wattle and daub partitions and a number of open fireplaces
• Discover a rare Tudor toilet (garderobe) and a Victorian privy.  Learn about the night soil man!
• Experience life in a Victorian mill worker's dwelling.  Victorian kitchen scene with displays and memorobilia 
• 
• See displays of lace, textiles, samplers, embroideries and elegant costumes in tableau settings
• View historical toys as featured on BBC2 Restoration Roadshow
• Play with our dolls house
• Have fun with our Tudor dressing up box
• You are welcome to take photographs

Learn about Bakewell's industral history and links with the Arkwright family in the new gallery.

• Stunning sculptural interpretation of Arkwrights Lumford millwheel
• See the fascinating roofs and windows of the building from our raised terrace (stairlift available)
• Relax in the courtyard, games, skipping ropes and hula hoops to play with

'Bakewell - The Ancient Capital of the Peak' by Trevor Brighton.

'History of the Bakewell Pudding' by Trevor Brighton.

'From Fort to Field - The Shaping of the Landscape of Bakewell in the 10th Century' by Jan Stetka.

'Bakewell and District Historical Society Journal Shire Publications' - on a variety of topics related to the museums collection.

We also stock a selection of postcards, greetings cards, pens, pencils and a range of local craft items.

In the Victorian period the building was used as accomodation for workers at the Lumford mill in Bakewell. Part of the house has been retained as a Victorian mill worker's cottage. Pitt's kitchen was the main room of one of the cottages, and was used for cooking, eating and washing.

William and Mary Pitt lived here from the 1890s until 1932. They had six children, and brought them up here in the three cramped rooms.

Mr. Pitt worked as the night soil man, who removed human waste from Bakewell's privies (toilets)...a horrible job!

The waste was then taken and spread on the fields…just imagine the smell!

In the 1911 census William Pitt described himself as a 'scavenger'.

 

 

  

The kitchen range had a fireplace with an oven and hot water tank. This needed cleaning and blackleading regularly. This was only one of the many daily jobs which the family would have done.

A tub was moved in front of the fire and filled with warm water for baths. For most families bath day was once a week, and often the whole family would share the same bath water.

 Laundry was also done in the kitchen using a copper and other equipment, including a washboard, posser, dolly tub, and tongs.

Water was squeezed out of the clothes using a mangle.