The museum is housed in the former White Horse Inn, a 300 year old, timber-framed building, which became the Folk Museum in 1936. Most of its collections date from the period 1750 – 1960 and almost every item in the museum has been donated by local people.  The displays have gradually and organically expanded.  

Before the redevelopment the museum had begun to suffer from shortage of space for its growing displays as well

as poor educational facilities and poor access for visitors.   The museum Trust raised £1 million from HLF and other sources for the redevelopment, which saw the construction of a strikingly-designed new extension using brick, slate and timber, merging the traditional with the contemporary. The ground floor of the museum retains many features of the inn and evokes the themes of eating, drinking and merriment, cooking, housework and laundry.   Elsewhere, visitors see another side to the area with glimpses of college life over three centuries and a look at the ‘town and gown’ divide. 

The new building, designed by Freeland Rees Roberts, includes on the ground floor an education room with space for up to 40 people, with access directly from the courtyard, and a new collections store which is environmentally controlled. On the first floor is office and workshop space for staff and volunteers, storage space for documents, a kitchen and toilet. A new lift provides access between the floors.

The museum is an independent charity. 

Visitor comment: “Fabulous to revisit the museum in all its new splendour.”
Contact: Cameron Hawke-Smith

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