LANCASTER CITY MUSEUM

Reviewed by Jill Prender

The museum is situated in what was originally Lancaster’s first town hall, prior to the erection of a new one funded by the wealthy Lancastrian industrialist James Williamson (Lord Ashton). It stands in an imposing position in the original Market Square, with steps leading up on three sides.

The museum is on two floors, and includes a small permanent art gallery. On the upper floor there are two permanent exhibitions; one large room is devoted to a display of military artefacts associated with various Lancashire Regiments. This room, though presenting a wealth of relevant material, nonetheless, has very limited appeal to the general visitor. The other – a walk-through, chronological display, chartering aspects of local life, from the past 12.000 years.

The latter collection, houses an interesting, and eclectic mix of life size models, in contemporary dress and settings, and hundreds of miscellaneous artefacts, with clear explanations, which include copies of original source materials. This section is especially suitable for children, as it is visually stimulating, with a wide range of interest.

Included on the ground floor are two rooms, each containing temporary exhibitions. The quality of these displays however, varies immensely. There is also a ‘shop’, selling books, pamphlets, maps, and ‘souvenir’ items. Currently however, there are no refreshment facilities, toilets, or ‘disabled access’. The inclusion of a small coffee shop would draw in more customers, who may be encouraged to stay for longer.

Sadly, the façade of the building is showing signs of many years of neglect, and is not particularly inviting, though the general impression is (somewhat) ameliorated by the addition of hanging baskets in the summer!

To conclude, what’s good, is good, but it’s strengths are rather diluted by an almost tangible sense of apathy, and a lack of focus, maybe hindered by financial constraints?

Lancaster City Museum is operated by Lancashire County Council, is open 9 – 5 Monday to Saturday. Admission is free, though ‘contributions are welcome’.