Frome Museum

Frome Museum

Location within Somerset and the United Kingdom
Location	North Parade, Frome, Somerset, England
Coordinates	51°13′58″N 2°19′09″W / 51.2328°N 2.3191°W
Collection size	approximately 20,000 items
Website	http://www.frome-heritage-museum.org/

Frome Museum in Frome, Somerset, England houses a collection of local history and has a particular important collection of artefacts from the bronze foundry of J.W.Singer.

Collections

There are two display rooms and a Library, with displays of many local industrial artefacts, maps & photos. The collections include local archaeological and historical artefacts related to the historical development of Frome and district. A display is devoted to the Butler and Tanner printing works in the town, including an old printing press. Another display exhibits photographs, diagrams, plans and tools from James Fussell's Ironworks of Mells. Other displays show items from Bussman Cooper (later Beswicks), the Marston House Fire Engine, local blacksmithying, a Chemist Shop from Bath Street and a collection of Victorian and later costumes.^[1]

Singers

There is a large selection of photographs, glass negatives and Art Metal Works from the local company Messrs J.W.Singer & Sons Ltd.^[2] John Webb Singer was born in Frome and established his art metal work foundry in 1851. They made brass ornaments for local churches and became known through the Oxford Movement within the Church of England which led to increasing demand for church ornaments.^[3] In addition to church ornaments the firm developed the facilities and expertise to create large statues. One of the first statues cast was a copy of General Gordon riding a camel. The firm was also responsible for the bronze statue of Boudica with her daughters in her war chariot (furnished with scythes after the Persian fashion), which was commissioned by Prince Albert and executed by Thomas Thornycroft. It was not cast in bronze until 1902, 17 years after Thornycrofts death, and now stands next to Westminster Bridge and the Houses of Parliament, London.^[4] The statue of Lady Justice on dome above the Old Bailey was executed by the British sculptor, F. W. Pomeroy and cast by Singers. She holds a sword in her right hand and a pair of weighing scales in her left. The statue is popularly supposed to show blind Justice; however, the figure is not blindfolded. The statue of Alfred the Great at Winchester was a further commission.^[5] The statues form Singers have also been exported around the world.^[6]

Building

The Italianate building was built as a Literary and Scientific Institute in 1865 for John Sinkins. The architect was J Hine and it was built by the company Carr and Pickford. It is a Grade II listed building.^[7] Cleaning and conservation of the building has been undertaken by Chedburn Dudley in conjunction with the Frome Historic Building Preservation Trust.^[8]

References

1. "Collection". Frome Museum. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
2. "Frome Museum". Culture 24. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
3. "The Founder". Frome Museum. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
4. Mark Stocker, ‘Thornycroft, Thomas (1815–1885)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, Sept 2004 online edn, Oct 2006 , accessed 2 January 2009
5. "Statuary". Frome Museum. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
6. "List of Singers Statues". Frome Museum. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
7. "Literary and Scientific Institute". Images of England. English Heritage. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
8. "Conservation - Sample Projects". Chedburn Dudley. Retrieved 6 February 2010.