On Saturday 26 March the Marlborough Museum, in The Merchant’s House will be holding an Open Day along with the rest of The Merchant’s House to celebrate its reopening.
Volunteers support the running of the Merchant’s House, Museum and Shop and the The Merchant’s House are always looking to recruit new volunteers to be part of this iconic part of Marlborough’s history. Volunteers will be welcomed.
Creating a Town Museum was one of the intentions set when When Marlborough Town Council purchased 132 High Street – what has since become The Merchant’s House – thirty years ago.
On examination of the building, it was discovered that it was largely in an original condition commensurate with that of the 17th Century, with remnants of the old décor on the walls. This building then became the restoration project that is now The Merchant’s House, becoming one of the finest examples of a house of this era in the country.
The opportunity for a museum lay dormant until a few years ago, when the upper floors of 133 High Street (above the Clark’s shoe shop), owned by the Merchant’s House Trust, became available.
This was the the space in which the Marlborough Museum could be created.
Since then many artefacts from different periods in Marlborough’s history have been assembled and put on display, but there are still many that are yet awaiting the opportunity to be seen by the visitors to the Museum.
Already on show is an assembly of Pelham Puppets, a relatively recent part of Marlborough’s history but one that bought awareness of Marlborough (and much pleasure) to many, not just in this area or even the UK, but across the world.
However, the progress of the Museum was slowed almost to a standstill – along with many other such ventures due to the onset of Covid. Hence the doors have been closed to the public for the past two year, although the desire and intentions behind a location where the Town’s history can be displayed has never dimmed.
An Open Day is planned for Saturday 26 March which will give residents and visitors to the town the chance to see what is already on display in the museum (and maybe some of what can be too) as well as having a rare opportunity to view the rest of The Merchant’s House.
But in order to keep the Museum open on a regular basis, several days each week a team of volunteers is needed – people keen and able to show visitors around, answer questions and give much-needed support that will make the Marlborough Museum a popular and key window into the town’s history-rich past. And also to keep The Merchant’s House open and active as well.
Anyone interested in volunteering should contact the Trust office on 01672 511491 or email info@themerchantshouse.co.uk, or come along to the Open day and have a look.
