Business Details
36 Years
experience
Explore Trowbridge Museum: 1000 Years of History
Trowbridge Museum stands as a custodian of Trowbridge's rich 1000-year history, housed within the Grade II listed Home Mills since 1990. Our mission is to preserve and showcase the town's evolution from a medieval settlement to a pivotal centre of the West of England woollen cloth industry. Through interactive exhibits, including one of only five surviving Spinning Jenny machines, we offer immersive experiences that connect visitors with the industrial revolution's impact on local communities. Our dedicated Learning & Outreach team delivers tailored workshops for schools and lifelong learners, ensuring historical engagement across all age groups. As part of Trowbridge Town Council, we maintain rigorous standards in collections care, holding an Arts Council England Accreditation. Our forward-thinking approach balances heritage preservation with modern accessibility, featuring sensory maps, multilingual resources, and adaptable event spaces.With free public access to over 6,000 historical items and a dynamic programme of craft workshops and exhibitions, we serve as both an educational hub and cultural landmark. Our team combines specialist knowledge in textile history, museum conservation, and community engagement to create meaningful visitor experiences. From medieval market charters to 20th-century Spitfire production, we present Trowbridge's story through authentic artefacts, oral histories, and interactive displays. Committed to transparency and public benefit, we operate under strict data protection and accessibility policies while actively seeking community input through volunteer programmes and donation initiatives.
Services
Museum Entry
Educational Workshops
Event Hire
Collections Access
Community Programmes
Exhibition Viewing
Historical Research
School Visits
Volunteer Opportunities
Public Lectures
Details
- Year established: 1990
Highlights and features
- We offer free access to accredited historical collections spanning 1000 years
- Our interactive exhibits include one of only five surviving Spinning Jenny machines
- We deliver curriculum-linked educational workshops for all key stages
- We provide accessible facilities including sensory maps and multilingual resources
- Our team combines specialist knowledge in textile history and museum conservation
Associations and certifications
- Arts Council England
Services
Museum Exhibits
Our interactive exhibits showcase Trowbridge's 1000-year history through rare textile machinery, including one of only five surviving Spinning Jenny machines. Visitors explore the town's transformation from medieval settlement to industrial powerhouse through authentic artefacts and multimedia displays. The collection includes over 6,000 historical items, from woollen cloth samples to social history objects, presented across two floors of our Grade II listed building.
Educational Workshops
We deliver curriculum-linked workshops for Early Years through Key Stage 2, with adaptable options for older students and special educational needs groups. Sessions combine object handling, dressing up, and craft activities using our extensive handling collections. Our Learning Hub facilitates skill development through historical context, supporting both formal education and lifelong learning initiatives across Wiltshire.
Event Hire
Our historic venue offers flexible event spaces for hire, including exhibition areas and meeting rooms within the museum complex. The facilities accommodate up to 100 people with modern amenities while preserving the building's industrial heritage character. Available for conferences, private functions, and community events, the space includes full accessibility features and on-site visitor services.
Collections Access
Public access to our accredited collections includes textile machinery, costume archives, and local history artefacts. Researchers can view the Aplin, Lansdown, and Morrison collections through pre-booked appointments with specialist staff. Our online database allows self-directed searches of object records, with reproduction services available for approved items following our Collections Care and Conservation Policy.
Community Programmes
We deliver community-focused initiatives including volunteer opportunities, local craft markets, and heritage festivals. Our programmes feature family workshops, reminiscence sessions, and collaborative exhibitions developed with local residents. The museum supports community engagement through easyfundraising partnerships, donation schemes, and accessible resources for diverse visitor groups.
People
Hannah Lyddy
Museum Manager
Hannah oversees museum operations with specialist knowledge in heritage management and public engagement. She leads strategic development while maintaining connections to Trowbridge's historical narrative through regular community interactions and collection stewardship.
David Birks
Learning & Outreach Officer
David develops educational programmes connecting schools with local history. His expertise in curriculum delivery ensures workshops meet educational standards while making history accessible and engaging for diverse learning groups.
Andrea Bartlett
Income Generation & Visitor Services Officer
Andrea manages visitor experiences and fundraising initiatives. She coordinates volunteer programmes and community engagement activities while ensuring accessible services for all museum visitors through improved visitor facilities.
Nikki Ritson
Collections & Exhibitions Officer
Nikki curates exhibitions and maintains collection standards. Her work focuses on preserving textile heritage while developing accessible displays that interpret Trowbridge's industrial history for modern audiences.
Hannah Randall
Museum Assistant
Hannah provides front-of-house support and assists with educational activities. She contributes to daily operations while sharing local history knowledge through interactive visitor experiences and workshop facilitation.
Questions
What are Trowbridge Museum's opening hours?
We're open Tuesday-Friday 10:00-16:00, Saturday 10:00-16:30. Closed Mondays and Sundays.
Is there free entry to Trowbridge Museum?
Yes, all our permanent exhibits and basic visitor services are completely free to access.
Do you offer educational programmes for schools?
We provide curriculum-linked workshops for Early Years through Key Stage 2 with adaptable options for SEN and home-schooled groups.
Can I access the museum collections for research?
Researchers can book appointments to view collections or search our online database at Museum Data Service.
Are there facilities for visitors with disabilities?
We offer lift access, sensory maps, accessible toilets, and multilingual resources to ensure inclusive visitor experiences.
How can I support Trowbridge Museum?
Support options include volunteering, donations, participating in fundraising events, or joining our Supporters Club.
Reviews (6)
Damian Rhodes
Jan 16, 2022
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Had a wonderful visit to the museum. The staff were all friendly and welcoming to my family of six. Highly recommend this place and lots of interactive things to do for the children.
Stephen Adams
Dec 31, 2021
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Really nicely laid out after it's refurbishment. Upstairs is cleaner now and has a large amount of space, I'm guessing, for school groups. Free admission and there is a (pay) drinks station next to the shop.
Jammer Jamski
Nov 30, 2021
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Have just moved to the town and went here with my daughter at the weekend. Really great museum packed with interesting stories, facts and some really impressive items of historical significance on display. Weaving equipment and things for kids to get involved in. Quizzes galore. Really well presented as well. Well worth a visit.
Mark Lyddy
Oct 26, 2021
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Brilliant place to visit with loads to see and lots of interactive activities for the family. And you can now get refreshments here too.
Carol Vile
Aug 13, 2021
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The museum now has two floors of exhibits (although seemed to me to have less on display than previously, maybe because it's less dark and cluttered and more open). It also has plenty of toilets on each floor, as well as rooms for things like windmill making classes, my granddaughter very much enjoyed this as did I. There were tables for refreshments, not quite sure if any were available or maybe school parties bring their own. Interesting views from the windows too.
Fraser Sharp
Aug 10, 2021
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Kids had great fun looking for the 15 hidden mice, staff were really friendly and engaged with the kids as well!
