Yorkshire Museum and Garden

YORK MUSEUM TRUST

York Museums Trust is one of only eight non-national general museum services in the country, which has 100 per cent designated collections. This means that all its collections are designated for their national importance.

The Trust was formed on 1 August 2002 and it is responsible for the development and management of York Castle Museum, Yorkshire Museum, York Art Gallery and York St Mary’s.

York Museums Trust was created to run these public museums with the purpose of delivering a better service to both the citizens of York and visitors to the city.

YORKSHIRE MUSEUM AND GARDENS

Yorkshire Museum is a treasure house in the heart of York. It is set in a unique location – 10 acres of wonderful botanical gardens.

Here, visitors can discover some of the world’s greatest and most beautiful archaeological finds. A host of Roman, Viking and Medieval riches are ready to be found again.

COLLECTIONS

Archaeology

Yorkshire Museum is internationally renowned for its amazing archaeology collections, which include treasures dating from the prehistoric to the 16th century. The core of the collection centres on the history of York, from its Roman foundation to the dissolution of one of the most powerful monasteries in Britain during the reign of Henry VIII.

Biology

The Biology (Natural History) collections at the Yorkshire Museum provide an internationally important resource for scientists studying biodiversity, genetics, comparative anatomy and many other related fields of research.

Many elements of the collection are not only scientific, but also of historical significance. Some of the specimens were the last of their species known and provide valuable information on their biology and anatomy.

Decorative Arts

The Decorative Art collections at the Yorkshire Museum include many unique and beautiful objects. The pottery collection contains several fine examples of tin-glazed drug jars. Some of these date from the late 1600s.

The Yorkshire Museum displays works by many of the most famous names in British pottery, including Bernard Leach, Lucie Rie and Hans Coper.

Bill Ismay has been described as ‘the greatest collector of studio ceramics in Britain of our time’. Many of the finest pots in the W. A. Ismay collection may be seen at the Yorkshire Museum.

Geology

Be transported 200 million years back in time to when Sea Dragons were both ‘The Hunters and the Hunted’. This gallery shows visitors the ancient fossil remains of these creatures from a time when dinosaurs ruled the land, but the seas and oceans teamed with marine-reptiles.

Thousands of fossils held in the geology collections at the Yorkshire Museum are from the Yorkshire coast, inland quarries, rivers, road and railway cuttings. Many of the fossils were collected in the 19th century, but can still be found along the Yorkshire coast today.

Given the Yorkshire Museum began collecting rocks, minerals and fossils in 1822, long before many other Museums (the Natural History Museum had not even been built!), its collections became extensive in their content and geographical spread. The geology collections include material from every continent of the globe and cover the whole of the history of life on Earth.

Numismatics

Numismatics is the study of coins and medals, taken from the Greek word nomismaatos, literally meaning ‘current coin’. The Yorkshire Museum houses a splendid collection of both coins and medals, many on display.

Before banks existed, people often buried hoards of coins, and other precious things, to keep them safe. Sometimes this buried wealth was lost or forgotten, to be found hundreds or even thousands of years later by more fortunate souls. An excellent example of such a find in York is the 4th century Heslington Hoard, part of which is on display in the Museum.

Each year, Yorkshire Museum staff identify thousands of objects on behalf of members of the public. Many of these objects are coins and other artefacts, found with the aid of metal detectors.

MUSEUM GARDENS AND BUILDINGS

The Yorkshire Museum & Gardens were originally established as a private, scientific and botanical feature for the members of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society.

The site is a scheduled Ancient Monument as well as a National Listed Garden. Some of the trees are national champions and the gardens are also home to diverse wildlife.

The Yorkshire Philosophical Society acquired the Museum site between 1827 and 1843. After purchase, the design for the botanic gardens was completed by Sir John Naysmith.

Multangular Tower

This was originally a corner of the Roman fortress. Only the lower six metres are Roman; the larger stones were added in the late 13th century to strengthen the medieval fortifications of the Abbey and City.

St Mary’s Abbey Ruins

This Benedictine Abbey was once the wealthiest and most powerful monastery in the North. The second church to be built on this site, it was completed in 1294 and is in the Early English style. The abbey fell into ruin after the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539 instigated by King Henry VIII.

Hospitium

This is thought to have been a guest house for visitors to the Abbey. The oldest parts of the ground floor date back to the 14th century. The timber framed upper story has been restored in modern times. The ruined gateway dates back to the 15th century and was probably the entrance to a passage that ran down to the river.

St Mary’s Lodge

This was built around 1470. Important visitors to the Abbey would have stayed there. The remaining arch dates back to the 12th century and was once the main entrance to the abbey grounds.

The Yorkshire Museum

Commissioned by the Yorkshire Philosophical Society to house their geological and archaeological collections, it was officially opened in February 1830, making it one of the longest established museums in the country.

Observatory

The octagonal stone observatory was built between 1832–1833 and may have been designed by J Smeaton who designed the Eddystone Lighthouse. The 4.5” telescope, originally built by Thomas Cooke of York in 1850, was installed in 1981 when the observatory was restored.

Manor Cottage

Designed in 1844 and looking back to the English Tudor style, it was built using magnesium limestone from the Abbey ruins.

Museum Gardens’ Lodge

Designed by G F Jones this example of the Victorian Gothic revival was built in 1874 and is the offices for the Yorkshire Philosophical Society.

Tempest Anderson Hall

This was added to the Yorkshire Museum in 1912 and is an early example of the use of reinforced concrete. It still reflects a classical influence echoing that of the main museum building.

The Yorkshire Museum is open daily 10am to 5pm.

General Enquiries: Museum Gardens, York, YO1 7FR, Tel: 01904 687687, email: Yorkshire.museum@ymt.org.uk, website: www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk

Media contact: Lee Clark, Media co-ordinator, Tel: 01904 687673, email: lee.clark@ymt.org.uk

For any further information and your free guide to York please contact: York Visitor Information Centre, Tel: 01904 550099, email: info@visityork.org or visit the website at www.visityork.org

Press contact: Kay Hyde, PR Manager - Visit York, Tel: 01904 554451, email: kh@visityork.org website: www.visityork.org