Name: Melton Carnegie Museum
Rating: 5.0

Melton Carnegie Museum

Thorpe Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE13 1RB, England

1-90 Years

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Description

Melton Carnegie Museum is a local museum that explores the rich social and economic history of Melton Mowbray. Housed in a historic Carnegie Library building from 1905, it offers a fascinating insight into the town’s heritage. It is an engaging destination for visitors interested in history, culture and local traditions.

Visitors can explore exhibitions covering prehistoric times through to the modern day, including Roman, Anglo-Saxon, medieval and rural life displays. The museum also highlights Melton’s famous industries such as Stilton cheese and pork pies, along with the history of fox hunting and its cultural impact. Additional features include themed displays, special exhibitions and opportunities to learn about the town’s development across different eras.

Entry to the museum is completely free for all visitors.

Melton Carnegie Museum offers a rich and educational experience for all ages. With its diverse exhibits and historical insights, it brings the story of Melton Mowbray to life. It is an ideal place for a cultural visit, learning experience and a deeper understanding of local heritage.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: No

Features

There’s a lot in a name. Melton Carnegie Museum is housed in the town’s former Carnegie Library which was built in 1905 thanks to a grant from the richest man in the world.
No, not Elon Musk, but industrialist Andrew Carnegie of Carnegie Hall fame. He was a great philanthropist who gave 90% of his fortune to charitable causes, and was responsible for the building of libraries around the world.
The museum covers all of this and also includes special exhibitions on the history, development and geographical protection of the town's world-renowned Stilton cheese and pork pie industries plus a look at the often controversial history of fox hunting in the region.
It was this regional pastime which inspired Leicestershire’s most iconic mascot the humble Fox, but these days, you’re more likely to see them roaming free and wild than being chased by a pack of hounds.

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Facilities

Parking: The closest car park is Mill Street (LE13 1AY).
Toilets: Our toilets are accessible, including a Changing Place and baby changing facilities.

What to see

Choose a display below to discover the themes of the museum, and more about some of the objects on display.

Prehistoric Melton: Prehistory is a vast time period. The earliest evidence for occupation in the Melton could be up to half a million years old. Prehistory is a vast time period with some of the earliest evidence for occupation in the Melton area being found at Brooksby in the form of Palaeolithic stone tools which could be up to half a million years old. People lived a nomadic hunter gatherer existence during the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic until the Neolithic when they settled, clearing the land for farming around 4,000 BC.
Roman, Anglo-Saxon & Viking Melton: The Romans successfully invaded Britain in AD 43 and quickly established forts and settlements across Britain. The Romans successfully invaded Britain in AD 43 under the Emperor Claudius and quickly established forts and settlements across Britain. In some areas where there were Iron Age settlements, these continued to be inhabited and developed during this period such as at Burrough Hill.
Medieval & Post-Medieval Melton: The Medieval period starts with the Norman invasion in 1066 although much of material culture was not affected so this can be difficult to see archaeologically. Throughout the Medieval period religion was important and many of the objects here show Christian imagery. The Church and nobility flaunted their wealth and decorated their buildings with beautiful floor tiles and stained glass windows. The Post-Medieval period begins with the dissolution of the monasteries around 1540.
Rural Life: Explore Melton as a place to live, work, visit and enjoy.
Melton Through the Ages: Find out about Melton from the pre-historic period to the present day.

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Price

Price: Free

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00 - 16:30
Mondays & Sundays: Closed

Address: Thorpe Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE13 1RB, England

Post Code: LE13 1RB

Council: Melton

County: Leicestershire

The Museum is a 10-15 minute walk from Melton Mowbray Railway Station, 5 minutes from bus stops on Windsor Street and close to numerous car parks in and around the town centre. The closest car park is Mill Street (LE13 1AY).