Free learning resources from arts, cultural and heritage organisations.

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Promenading the Parade

The Royal Museum

The two sources below make up an advertisement for the Original Royal Museum, dating back to the 1830s. The building represented in the advert, with its large display window, can still be seen on South Parade, but it is now a bed and breakfast.

 

Page one of an advertisement for Mawe's Original Royal Museum, Matlock Bath showing a line drawing of the Royal Museum
Advertisement for Mawe's Original Royal Museum, Matlock Bath

Page two of an advertisement for Mawe's Original Royal Museum, Matlock Bath listing some of the things you can go and see, such as vases, obelisks, tables, urns and minerals
Advertisement for Mawe's Original Royal Museum, Matlock Bath

 

Discussion Points

  • What is a museum? Discuss in groups what you think makes a museum.
  • Read the advert for the museum carefully. Do you think this museum is what we would call a museum today?
  • What kind of people do you think would visit this museum?
  • Find out what your local museum is. Can you find out what sort of things they have in their collections?
  • There are some unusual words in the museum advert. Can you find out what 'black marble', 'spars' and 'tuffa' are? How are these items related to Matlock Bath?