Tullie House Museum celebrates 125 years
The Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery has been important to Carlisle since it was opened by the Carlisle Corporation in 1893.
This year Tullie House is commemorating 125 years in the city and they plan to celebrate with a programme of events throughout the year that showcase their outstanding collections and diverse range of activities.
“Our 125th year is the perfect time to reflect on our past and consider our future” explains Director of Tullie House, Andrew Mackay. “The cultural offer in the city is moving forward at pace and we want Tullie House to be, not only at the centre, of this activity but driving the change. All of our key stakeholders are offering their support – from the Heritage Lottery Fund to Arts Council England and from Cumbria County Council to Carlisle City Council – and we all see the potential to build on the success of Tullie House to create a unique and special cultural and community resource in the heart of the city.”
Over 125 years the museum has seen some extraordinary changes with new facilities making a huge impact but the stately mansion still lies at its heart.
The original building is a Jacobean mansion and the grade 1 listed building can be traced back to the 16th century.
The garden is laid out with plants from that period, a Jacobean garden would have been filled with plants grown for their medicinal and culinary properties. A haven for wildlife and birds, it’s an attractive and restful green space in the heart of the city which provides an oasis to residents and tourists alike.
The old building and its gardens hark back to an earlier period but major redevelopment in the 90’s made Tullie House the marvel it is today when the museum expanded to improve its facilities to include the shop, restaurant, art gallery and lecture theatre.
Tullie House, Alex Farthing
In 2001 an underground gallery was developed as part of a Millennium Commission Award to showcase the museum’s collections.
This is a significant year for Tullie House and its history will be told through objects from the collection and personal stories about the people who made Tullie House what it is today. The Natural Science collection will reveal discoveries made by researchers, while stunning displays of favourite objects by visitors will bring back happy memories of school trips and family visits. They will be highlighted across the permanent galleries throughout the year, inviting people to take a closer look at familiar objects and discover those no longer on permanent display.
”The milestone is very significant in helping us to consider how we have served the city in the past and how we develop for the future.” said Amy Walker, Head of Programme and Development Manager. “These events are a great opportunity to be part of capturing the special memories of Tullie House’s past, as well as being able to shape its present and future.”
A series of illustrated talks is scheduled over the year to explore key themes in more depth. The first will be ‘125 Years of Nature’ on the 20th of June. The Natural History collection at Tullie House collects and preserves objects and information concerning the wildlife and geology of Cumbria and it maintains a biological database with over 200,000 records of wildlife sightings in Cumbria.
On the 19th of September another talk will explore the human history of the people who have left their mark on Cumbria. From stone axes by prehistoric people, Roman artifacts, Reivers to the Railways – the history of Carlisle is filled with fascinating tales.
On November 7th a talk will cover the extensive art collection, which includes fine art, costumes, textiles and decorative art. Highlights of the collection include works by North Cumbrian artists, an important collection of Pre-Raphaelite works and the stunning sixteenth century Amati violin.
With plenty of chances to get involved, you can help Tullie house celebrate their 125th anniversary… expect to learn a lot of interesting facts along the way too.
To find out more about the programme visit the website www.tulliehouse.co.uk/125years
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