Trowbridge Museum
Trowbridge Museum is in Home Mills, one of the last working textile mills in the town. It tells the story of the town and its people. It opened here in July 1990 and since then, over 450,000 visitors have enjoyed this friendly and fascinating museum. Find the museum in the middle of the busy Shires shopping centre. This unique position means that visitors have ample parking and easy access.
Whitaker Collection
Contains well over 2000 objects hoarded by the family who never threw anything away.
For over 300 years, the Whitaker family of Bratton, a small village near Trowbridge, lived in one house. The accumulation of their possessions resulted in this fascinating collection dating from the 18 and 19 centuries. Dr Marjorie Reeves inherited Yew Trees from her aunt Jane Whitaker and in 1977, she gave this collection to Trowbridge Museum.
THINGS TO SEE:
A: Fulling Machine
Designed by John Dyer, a Trowbridge man, in 1833.
B: Shears
These huge shears were used to trim off the nap from cloth after the cloth had been had been brushed with teasels. Not to be confused with the much smaller shearing shears which were used to cut fleece off sheep.
C: Thomas Hilliker
Executed for his alleged part in a riot at Littleton Mill, Thomas Hilliker was executed in 1803. He wrote a letter to his family the evening before his death and a copy of this is on display.
D: Spitfires and Bomb Casing
Spitfires were made and assembled in the Trowbridge area. A small pice of bomb casing was kept from the bomb which fell near Town Bridge in July 1942.
E: Fireman's Helmet and Fire Pump
A wonderful brass helmet and an early
Trowbridge fire engine.
F: Olympic Torch
Carried by a local man, Rex Chapman in 1948.
G: Spinning Jenny
A very rare and important early wooden machine, dating from about 1780. This machine was used in a Trowbridge mill.
H: Trowbridge Castle
A re-construction of how the wooden castle might have looked when it was attacked by King Stephen in 1139. Look for some of the castle dig finds on display.
I: Town Hall Opening
Souvenirs from the opening of the town hall in 1889 including one of the chairs made specially for the royal visitor.
J: Handle of Teasels
An early hand tool used to brush cloth and raise the nap.
VISITORS INFORMATION:
FUN, FRIENDLY AND FREE!
Opening Times
Tuesday - Friday: 10am - 4pm
Saturday: 10am - 4.30pm
Closed Sunday and Monday and Bank Holidays
Trowbridge Museum is in The Shires shopping centre with easy parking.
Disabled Access
The Museum has wheel chair access by lift. Please check before you come that the lift is working. The Museum also has a toilet.
The Museum is on the 2nd floor of the old Home Mills building. The original staircase is in use which means 4 short flights of stone steps.
The Museum displays are all on one level except the Castle which has a wheel chair ramp.
Finding Us
Trowbridge is easily accessible by road and rail. Buses link the town to Bath, Bristol, Salisbury, Swindon and other surrounding towns.
The Museum is well signed on all the roads leading into the town centre. Look for the brown signs.
Trowbridge station is just 5 minutes walk from the Museum.
Address:
Trowbridge Museum
The Shires,
Court Street,
Trowbridge,
Wiltshire