History in a box

The museum has a range of loan boxes for hire which support the National Curriculum.

Boxes are available for two week loan periods. £15 per loan period, boxes to be collected from the museum.

Loan boxes are not only for schools, any group is welcome to borrow one.

For more information contact us.

Photograph of contents

World War II

Contains:

  • Gas mask in box*
  • Baby’s Gas mask
  • War Illustrated Magazine
  • Headlight cover
  • Incendiary bomb and tail
  • Ration book
  • Dried egg packet (replica)
  • ARP warden whistle
  • ARP warning rattle (replica)
  • Home Guard photograph

*Replica: we are unable to provide original gas masks as they contain asbestos. This replica is safe for pupils to handle and try on.

Photograph of contents

Then and now: then

Contains:

  • Oil lamp
  • Teapot
  • Horn beaker
  • Codd-neck bottle
  • Curling irons
  • Flat iron
  • Brass saucepan
  • Baby's gown  
Photograph of contents

Then and now: now

Contains:

  • Torch
  • Teapot
  • Plastic beaker
  • Plastic bottle
  • Electric curling irons
  • Electric iron
  • Aluminium saucepan
  • Baby grow
Photograph of contents

Britain since the 1930's

Contains:

  • 1950s radio
  • 1930s hair dryer 
  • 1930s electric iron 
  • 1940s man's swimming costume 
  • 1960s vinyl record
  • Pre-decimal coins
  • Pre-decimal currency converter
Then and now: then

Victorian

Contains:

  • Pewter tankard
  • Glass pop bottle
  • Hot water bottle
  • Curling tongs
  • Combinations 
  • Wick trimmer
  • Candlestick
  • Brass saucepan
Photograph of contents

Victorian: school

Contains:

  • Sampler
  • Hand bell 
  • Ink well
  • Chalk
  • Ink bottle
  • Slates (replica) these can be used by pupils
  • Nib pens (replica) can be used by pupils - please note ink is not supplied 
Photograph of contents

Victorian: kitchen

Contains:

  • Jelly mould
  • Horn beaker
  • Butter pats 
  • Cast iron kettle (replica) 
  • Brass weight
  • Brass saucepan 
  • Horn handled knife and fork
Photograph of contents

Victorian: home

Contains:

  • Brass candle stick
  • Ink well
  • Shoe horn
  • Skirt lifter
  • Man's nightshirt 
  • Crimping tongs brass
  • Wick trimmer
Photograph of contents

Romans and celts

Contains:

  • Strigil
  • Coins
  • Knucklebones
  • Purse
  • Brooch
  • Celtic pot
  • Boy’s red tunic
  • Girl’ s white underdress
  • Girl’s blue overdress
  • Palla
Photograph of contents

Geology

Contains:

  • Hecticoceras ammonite (163m years)
  • Dactylioceras ammonite (180m years)
  • Meandrina (80m years)
  • Favosites colonial coral (425m years)
  • Micraster echinoid (85m years)
  • Bi-valve (150m years)
  • Gryphaea
  • Fossilized wood

(All the items in this loan box are replicas)

Photograph of contents

The slave trade

Contains:

  • Cotton gown
  • Sugar loaf (replica) 
  • Sugar nippers
  • Brass manilla
  • Horn snuff box
  • Clay tobacco pipe
  • George III penny

Find out more

For more information or to discuss any requirements please contact us.