Lydiard House, which is an accredited museum, has joined the prestigious Wessex Museum partnership. This thriving collaboration brings together museums across Dorset and Wiltshire, including Dorset Museum, Poole Museum, STEAM – the Museum of the Great Western Railway, Swindon Museum & Art Gallery, The Salisbury Museum, and Wiltshire Museum.
Wessex Museums say that their purpose is to
enhance the resilience and significance of the museums within the partnership and throughout the region.
Together they plan to undertake collaborative projects which bring the rich heritage of these institutions to people’s lives.
The State Bedroom, Lydiard House
Lydiard House Museum, along with two other Swindon Museums, STEAM Museum and Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, officially became a part of the Wessex Museums partnership in April 2023. This exciting development further strengthens the collective knowledge, resources, and inspiration that Wessex Museums shares with the broader museums and arts sector.
Swindon Museums Manager Frances Yeo said:
“I’m delighted that Swindon Museums are now part of the Wessex Museums Partnership. We’ve been working with the Wessex Team for the past 18 months, so we’ve already seen some real transformation within our work. The first of Swindon Museums to benefit from an exhibition brought in through our joint working, will be Lydiard House Museum. Our changing exhibition for 2024 will be ‘Lest We Forget’ which is a co-curated exhibition focussing on the experience of black service personnel during the First and Second World Wars in Wiltshire, and especially those stationed close to Lydiard.”
By joining the partnership, Lydiard House Museum along with Swindon Borough Council’s other museums will benefit from a three-year funding package which includes funding for a full-time Community Engagement Officer. The post holder will work with people in Swindon’s communities on co-creation and co-curation projects across Swindon Museums.
Lydiard House Museum is open Wednesday – Sunday 11 am to 4pm until Saturday 23rd December, and will reopen for Easter 2024.
Friends of Lydiard Park are entitled to Free entry to the State Rooms, otherwise normal admission applies.