The Merchant’s House – the living gateway on the High Street to historic Marlborough will be re-opening for visits on Tuesday 19 March. As well as taking a trip to the seventeenth century time of the silk merchant, Thomas Bayly, visitors will new be able to see the museum which is currently being populated with a ‘Marlborough at War’ theme.
The museum has also been re-energised, and the ‘Marlborough at War’ theme highlights the lives of the townspeople through the Civil Wars and the two World Wars. Marlborough was the site of one famous Civil war battle – the eponymous ‘Battle of Marlborough’ of 1642, which took place eleven years before the construction of The Merchant’s House in 1653.
Then over the recent century and more Marlborough has been active in both World Wars, as a military centre, hospital – primarily for the American troops in WWII on The Common and the whole area was surrounded by military establishments of all sorts – Army, Air Force, Marines, and – more recently even the Navy with HMS Marlborough.
The exhibition in the museum looks at life on the Home Front, as well as relating stories of those who left the town to go to war. The Merchant’s House are very privileged to have on display six Poppies which formed the Tower of London installation to mark 100 years since the end of WW1, set against a moody black and white backdrop, one of photographer Bob Holman’s evocative views.
There will be self guided tours, where visitors can view the house and the many rooms at their own pace, taking time to take in the artworks, architectural mysteries and have the time to stand in the bay window of the Panelled Room to survey the daily hustle and bustle of the High Street.
Our Wartime Trades room gives visitors a glimpse at the shops on the High Street, with some wartime recipe ideas to try! In the WW1 room you can learn the stories of Elsie Knocker (now with ‘Elsie Knocker Grove named after her in the Marleberg Grange development) and Beatrice Bull before moving to the WW2 room to discover the role that Black American soldiers played in Wiltshire, particularly the Iron Gates ammunition store in Savernake Forest.
Self guided tours of The Merchant’s House are £10 for adults, with children (U16) free. The Merchant’s House is open for visits on Mondays and Tuesdays between 10am and last entry at 3pm. Guided tours are also available, to find out more visit The Merchant’s House website by clicking here.
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