Museum of South Somerset

Coordinates: 50°56′22″N 2°38′05″W / 50.9394°N 2.6348°W / 50.9394; -2.6348

Museum of South Somerset
Shown within Somerset
Location	Hendford, Yeovil, Somerset, England
Type	Local museum
Website	Museum website

The Museum of South Somerset is in Hendford, Yeovil, Somerset, England. It is also the location of a Tourist information centre.

The collection was started by Alderman W.R.E. Mitchelmore, Mayor of Yeovil from 1918 - 1921.^[1] It is based in the former coach house to Hendford Manor. The manor house itself was built around 1720 and has since been converted into offices and is a Grade II* listed building.^[2]

There are displays of local history and geology particularly local industries such as leather and glove-making, flax and hemp production, stone working, engineering and newspaper printing.^[3] The display cover various stages of the history of the area prehistoric and Roman occupation, through to agricultural and industrial revolutions.. The Lower Gallery is used to house temporary touring exhibitions, while the upper gallery has permanent displays, including a reconstructed Roman dining room and kitchen with mosaics recreated from excavations of local villas at Westland, Lufton and Ilchester.^[1][4] There are also displays of local prehistory and geology. A period Georgian house provides intriguing glimpses into the museum's glassware, costume and social history collections. Items from the museum's firearms, pottery and painting collections are also exhibited and changed regularly. . There is also an exhibition on Jack The Treacle Eater from Barwick.^[5]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Museum of South Somerset". Yeovil Town. http://www.yeoviltown.com/directory/museumofsouthsomerset.aspx. Retrieved 30 May 2010. 
2. ^ "Hendford Manor". Images of England. English Heritage. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=261364. Retrieved 21 March 2010. 
3. ^ "South Somerset Museum". South Somerset Museum. http://www.southsomersetmuseums.org.uk/. Retrieved 21 March 2010. 
4. ^ "South Somerset Museum". South Somerset Museum. http://southsomersetmuseums.org.uk/. Retrieved 30 May 2010. 
5. ^ "Museum of South Somerset". Culture 24. http://www.culture24.org.uk/sw000077. Retrieved 30 May 2010.