British Empire and Commonwealth Museum

Infobox Museum
name = British Empire and Commonwealth Museum


established = 2002
location = Bristol
map_type = Bristol
latitude = 51.4489
longitude = -2.5835
visitors =
director =
website = [http://www.empiremuseum.co.uk/ www.empiremuseum.co.uk]

The British Empire and Commonwealth Museum (gbmapping|ST597725) is a museum in Bristol, United Kingdom that explores the history of the British Empire and the effect of British colonial rule on the rest of the world.

The museum opened in 2002 in Bristol's historic old railway station, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It is the world's earliest surviving railway terminus, which was completed in 1840 and includes the passenger shed and the adjoining former engine and carriage shed. It is over 220ft long with timber and iron roof spans of 72ft, this Grade I listed building [cite web | title=Bristol Old Station, Temple Meads | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=380662 | accessdate=2007-03-13] has been nominated as a World Heritage Site. [cite web |url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/conGap.6 |title= British Empire and Commonwealth Museum |accessdate=2007-03-13 |format= |work=English Heritage ]

The museum has a flourishing publications department, producing books on aspects of colonial life such as the history of the Northern Rhodesia Police, and a register of titles of the regiments of the Honourable East India Company and East Indian Armies. The museum also holds the collection of artefacts of the Commonwealth Institute; extensive still photograph, paper, film and oral history archives, and a costume collection.

The museum is also the home of the New World Tapestry.cite web |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/bristol/somerset/3165712.stm |title= World's biggest tapestry on move |format= html |work= BBC News |date= 5 October 2003 |quote= Now the 39 million stitch tapestry, which was 23 years in the making, is to have a new home at the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum in Bristol. The tapestry is due to move to its new home in Bristol at the beginning of next month [November 2003] . ] cite web |url= http://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/event.php?id=288 |title= British Empire and Commonwealth Museum Bristol: Pow Wow – Special exhibition until 1st November 2006 |format= html |date= |quote= Pow Wow also features the stunning New World Tapestry. Created over 25 years in England’s West Country and larger than the Bayeaux Tapestry, it presents a light-hearted history of the colonial period as well as providing a fascinating record of the people and plants that made possible Britain’s first empire in America. ]

On 23 November 2007 the museum announced it would be moving it core operations to London in 2008. [cite web |url=http://www.empiremuseum.co.uk/aboutus/relationalnews.htm#move |title=News |accessdate=2007-03-13 |format= |work=British Empire and Commonwealth Museum ]

Admissions information

Unlike many national museums in Britain, the BECM is not publicly-funded, but is owned and operated by a charitable trust; consequently an admission charge is made. The museum is open every day of the year except Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Normal opening hours are 10am–5pm. Last admission is at 4.30pm.

References

External links

* [http://www.empiremuseum.co.uk/ British Empire & Commonwealth Museum website]