Accy museum exhibits dumped on tip....
 

OAK HILL PARK MUSEUM, ACCRINGTON
In 1951 the museum at Accrington, Lancs., (founded 1900) was dispersed.
An account of its history and its biological collections has been submitted to B.C.G. Newsletter. However, its holdings of geological material were also
extensive and were largely the r e s u l t of donations by:-

Dr. Conrad Gerland. "3 cwts." of minerals and f o s s i l s given on 14.11.1930
a f t e r his death. He and his father, D r . B. W. Gerland,
arranged the museum collections during 1900-1.

Col. John Wilson Rimington, (18.5.1832-4.7.1909). The 1933 "Guide" to the
museum gives the t o t a l number of mineral specimens as
10,000 (possibly 18,000). The majlority of these were
probably donated by Rimington i n 1900-1. He was born a t
Broomhead Hall, nr. Sheffield, had a Cambridge M.A. and
lived a t Lynton House, Upper Norwood, nr. Croydon. He
also collected plants, insects and molluscs. Sales of
his minerals were held a t Stevens on June loth, l l t h , 1891,
June 15th, 1892, and in Paris on 9.12.1912 a f t e r his death
(1300 l o t s ) . There are a considerable number of specimens
from the f i r s t two of these sales a t Sheffield City Museums.
The 1933 "Guide" also mentions 2,000 Carboniferous f o s s i l s , but does not
give their source.

In 1951 the museum's collections were destroyed, sold or given away. The
f o s s i l s were dumped on a tip a t Baxenden, nr. Accrington, along with some of the larger minerals, but the bulk of the mineral collection was obtained for Reading University where it remains v i r t u a l l y untouched. Dr. Roger Harker has recently compiled a detailed catalogue of the collection which w i l l probably be s p l i t up into teaching, reference and exchange collections. A t present the collection occupies some thirteen cabinets of about 10 drawers each. Dealers' names found among the specimens include Bryce Wright of London, A. E. Foote of Philadelphia and A. Krantz of Berlin.
Photocopies of a l l relevant l i t e r a t u r e , D r . Barker's catalogue, the museum
guide, inventories, etc3, are retained a t Towneley Hall Museum, Burnley.
I should l i k e to thank Prof. P. Allen (Reading), Dr. R. Harker, Prof. F. Hodson,
(Southampton), Rosemary Preece (Manchester Museum) and T. Riley (Sheffield Museum)
for their help in tracing t h i s material.
M. A. Taylor,
Perth Museum 8 A r t Gallery

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Sorry, it was getting late, and I was ready for bed. The above quote was taken from...

http://www.geocurator.org/arch/Curator/Vol2No3.pdf

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The Mineralogical Record - Label Archive

Old label, Accrington Museum.

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'The Corporation renovated the house, and the museum opened in 1910. There were eight rooms displaying various eclectic items of local history, art and specialised collections. Most items were donated. During the Second World War, the museum closed to the public and never reopened. For some years in the 1950s and 1960s, Whitewell Dairies ran a café on the ground floor.'
Shopping - Francis Frith

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More details on the building, and photographs.

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...cys-50060.html

The Friends of Oak Hill Park Accrington.

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Class X. Institution confirmed as no longer having any natural history collections.

66 Accrington Museum

http://fenscore.man.ac.uk/nwcru/Skel...stclaslist.htm

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'There have been a number of important new acquisitions in addition to the rock collections reported above. A collection of minerals numbering some thousands of specimens is being transferred from the University of Reading where it is no longer required for teaching or research. It includes the 19th century Accrington Museum collection. While a substantial number of the specimens will greatly improve the Oxford holdings, others that are too poorly documented for permanent retention will be set aside for handling collections and destructive research. '
Oxford University Museum of Natural History

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Interesting, I often how many gifts to Museums and Libraries are rotting away in basements

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They're the lucky ones.

The ones not dumped at a tip.

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The Rimington Collection must have been huge and very fine, perhaps one of the great "lost" British collections.

Some of the Rimington mineral collection was donated to the Accrington Museum ca. 1900 (possibly around 10,000 specimens!) along with his herbarium. The Accrington collections, in turn, were dispersed (a polite term for "destroyed, discarded, sold or given away")

The Mineralogical Record - Label Archive

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I remember the museum when I was younger, at the top of the stairs were two statues on pedastles, one of them still exists, its the reception area at the Howarth Art Gallery, one other thing I remember is the 7.92x57 model 08 Maxim machine Gun, it was supposed to have been captured by the Pals, and offered to the mayor of Accrington by Col Rickman,
I have the serial numbers of those items that were donated, for some time it was in Blackburn Museum, with a sign on it captured by the Pals. It was moved to Fulwood some 7 years ago. Whilst working at Fulwood, I was asked to deactivate it for display in another museum, I stripped it down, and on examination, it wasn't the one Rickman donated, the serial numbers did'nt match. I then refused to have anything further to do with it.
Retlaw

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Keep on with this subject, you never know, "people power" may just win us a room up The Haworth. Think its time to officially write to Hyndburn Council asking whats the chances of?

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I think the idea that the Haworth can't display anything other than art, appears to hold less, and less credibility.

Accrington museum treasures on display at last (From Blackburn Citizen)

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I know of a couple of Items that are in the Haworth.
two gargoyles were uncovered in Warmden Brook, Grange Lane, in the early 1800's, and were reputed to be part of the old grange in Accrington, they were at Oak Hill museum.

Retlaw.

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Perhaps we should organise an archaeological dig at the tip in Baxenden, and dig up the hundreds of fossils, that once formed a unique collection in Accrington Museum..

:D

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I can think of 2 members that must be descendants.:D

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I can just picture you in you wellies, digging away at the tip up bash, I'll bring my camera.
They didn't all go in the tip, some were rescued, an old man that used to live on Eaton Bank had some, he gave face ache a few.
This was rescued from Oak Hill.
Retlaw

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You for 1, I know who the other is, un its nod me.:D:D
Retlaw.

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Dig?

I'll be the one in the pith helmet, directing people where to work, and shouting at them to 'Put your back into it'.

:D

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Hi Retlaw. I love the colours of the tile. Whereabouts was it from please? I have one of the old green tiles which came out of the entrance hall to the mansion house in Oak Hill Park, which of course had been the Museum at one point. (and I did NOT pinch it, in case you are wondering, I got a workman to let me have!!)

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Can you post a pic of the tile? I remember looking through the front door, early 90's and seeing them green tiles, the roofs had fell in, the place was a mess, but those tiles were well glazed and shone out amongst the mess

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Hi, will search it out and photograph it for you odders.

Back to the museum exhibits, its possible that some of the original items in the museum, apart from gifts off local people, CAME FROM THE MUSEUM IN THE PEEL PARK HOTEL! Yes folks! The Peel Park. A Mr Greenwood seemed to have started the first museum in Accrington! Must have a dabble and find out more about this chappie!

In 1881 exhibits were being sold off after the death of "Mr Greenwood". His daughters were selling off "The Public House with the excellent bowling green, good dwelling house and extensive pleasure gardens" and also "an important sale of the valuable collection of rare and ancient curiosities" collected by the late Mr James Greenwood. Just look at the items listed on the sale details. Bet some of them survived and are now in the Haworth, behind the scenes!

I would like to think some of our "learned men" of the time had the sense to purchase and keep until the town had the museum in Oak Hill Park.

Even back in 1881 we had a museum!!!!!!

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Wot you so jumpy at, whoes bothered how you got it.
The tile in question came from the big fireplace downstairs.
Retlaw.

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Oh no you won't, thats my job, and just for that I'll make sure you have the biggest shovel. :tongueout
Retlaw.

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Oh dear! Look what could be on the cards at Bolton

BBC News - Should councils cash in on art?

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Sadly saw that on the local BBC news last week.

You'd think there'd be some legal clause, that if you donate a painting to your local art gallery/museum, that it can't be sold.

A little ironic this happened in Bolton.

The same place that forked out £440,000.00 for a fake art work, knocked up in a garden shed.

Amarna Princess - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7091435.stm

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Just been speaking to a neighbour, whose father was ordered to dispose of the cabinets, & contents of the butterfly, beetles, and other insect collections. They were smashed up loaded on a lorry, and taken to Whinney Hill tip.
Probably the unwanted items in the fossil collection, went the same place.
Retlaw.

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Accrington's First Museum. 1855.
Founded by Ormerod Chadswick, Henry Barben, Richard Fish & William Booth, in a rented shop in Abbey St. Later transferred to Milnshaw, where they built a shed to house the exhibits, and created a garden. Sold to the Corporation for 500 quid, and became Milnshaw Park.

Retlaw.

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Shame they didn't keep it, bet Milnshaw looked better in 1855.:(

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Thought you didnt believe what Richard Ainsworth said and here you are, quoting him! Tee hee

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I've seen mention of the town's Amusement Gardens, would that be them?

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Pleasure Gardens.

Whoops.

That's what they were called.

Accrington's Pleasure Gardens.

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There are other sources than him, and if you knew of that from Ainsworth, why were you on about the one up Peel Park being the first. post 23.

Retlaw

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Flippin eck Walter. You are keeping me up! Was just on my way up to bed! I had read that the museum at the Peel Park was the first. Now I have more knowledge!
4 years!!! You have won me by 4 years! Whats that amongst friends!
Many many years ago a portion of what we know as the old Accrington Stanley football pitch was purchased by a Mr John Cockshutt, and made into public gardens and named Peel Park Gardens, a charge being made for admission. For a long time these were known as "Cockshutt Gardens" by the good folk of Accrington. He built the Peel Park Hotel. Attracted by the glowing reports of the gold rush in Australia, he emigrated there.
The gardens were purchased from him in 1859 by Mr James Greenwood (see post 23) who came from Todmorden, where he had a public museum. He transferred his collection to an upper room adjoining the Peel Park Hotel and continued the gardens as a place of entertainment. It became a popular resort at a period when such pleasure grounds were in fashion. There was a special open air dancing platform, and on Saturdays and holiday times during the Summer, a band presented a gala appearance. Near the entrance to the Museum was a collection of small living animals, whilst upstairs the items had mainly been collected by Mr Greenwood. At his death the contents were sold by public auction, many of the items finding their way to Blackburn Museum.
Within the gardens was a "playing fountain", with ornamental rockery. Here were brought the carved corbels from "the Black Abbey" and there they remained, until transferred by permission of Messrs. Thwaites. These I am pleased to say, are most def in The Haworth Art Gallery.

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Just found this.
Sorry it's in white, hope it's readable.

LANCASHIRE: 1819 -1870 Original Bundle of Vellum & Paper documents relating to PLECK HOUSE, Land and Cottages at Lower Fold in Accrington, late property of Mr John Hargreaves, with a very fine plan hand drawn on Vellum Document of 1849 showing PLECK HOUSE and Pleasure Gardens and Grounds on the Junction of Marquis Street and the BURY to WHALLEY Turn pike Road, also showing the River Henburn, Cunliffe & Ratcliffe property's, LOWER FOLD with Cottages, CLUB HOUSE, LOWER FOLD ROAD, The Peets Arms Inn. Another document with Plan of Land Near Pleck House. An 1869 Vellum Document with Plan showing UNION BUILDINGS MILL on the River HYNDBURN, WEIR STREET, Overseers of the Poor (Work House)?. etc. 1862 Large 26 page ABSTRACT OF TITLE of the PLECK HOUSE Estate from 1818.
1819-1870 ACCRINGTON Lancs ARCHIVE & PLANS DOCUMENT LOT | eBay

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Just highlight the white text and it turns blue on white. So much easier to read.

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Think its time to start thinking what we HAVE for a museum. There's still plenty "knocking around" - time to start asking the "right" people, no ..... telling the "right" people that we want a museum again in our town. The house Hollins Hill, was left to our town "for the people of Accrington". (This of course became known as The Haworth Art Gallery). We ARE the people of Accrington, arent we? Think we should be able to have a say in this matter!

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Miss Haworth did leave the house to the people of Accrington, ask Helen at the gallery to show you a copy of the will, its in a cardboard box with some other documents & photos, I think it specifies Art Gallery, if so theres nowt can be achieved, the council is after saving money on that place, thats why they don't have a curator.
I think your batting uphill on this one.
Retlaw.

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But, dear Retlaw, I too have a copy of Ann Haworth's will and it QUITE CLEARLY STATES the house to be left as A MUSEUM and Art Gallery. Notice the word MUSEUM came first!

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Now now Atarah, we can't have that, official documents don't count, you will have to get permission of mikejoed, because it says in the paper Art Gallery and Park, and only the local chip wrapper counts, and news papers are never wrong are they.
Retlaw

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If the terms of the will have been breached have the descendants of the donor got the right to reassume possession of the property?

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Don't think so Margaret, Miss Howarth was unmarried, and some of the memorabelia, that could be construed as museum exhibits, were on display not many weeks ago.
Retlaw.

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HAWORTH please, not HOWARTH!!!!

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No matter what the terms of the will were, art isn't definitive.

If Tracey Emin's crusty, unmade bed is 'art', then anything can be.

Duchamp exhibited a urinal as art in 1917.

Create a musuem exhibition up at the Haworth, call it sculpture, and voila! Art.

:D

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I do believe that the old Commercial Hotel in Accy would make an excellent museum & gallery, given it's central location. I'm reliably informed that the building is currently being used as a licenced greasy spoon cafe, so it would be no great loss in that role.

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Digressing slightly, but am off shortly to Manc Museum. I have just checked, on line, re the opening hours, and found this interesting page. If you look at DOWNLOADS, Acquisitions, it just shows how interested folk still are in Museums - when we get ours in Accrington, these are the type of items folk MAY donate.

Collections | About the collections | Recent acquisitions | MOSI

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sad to say when I ask where I could buy some Accrington Pals stuff,I was told in the town hall "we don't sell that kind of stuff here" neither could they send me anywhere that would.

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It comes as a surprise to me that the Tourism Office in the Town Hall doesn't sell Pals stuff. I wonder if USAngel has spoken with the right people. Haworth Art Gallery? The Library? Has Ann Parkin finally closed her shop at the bottom of Burnley Rd?

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Hi Bob, yep Ann Parkins shop is no longer.

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Did you find out any more about Mr Greenwood? I've got three James Greenwoods from Todmorden in my family tree.