Groups are invited to delve into Shropshire Museums’ collections, exploring thousands of fascinating objects, as part of a new behind-the-scenes experience.
Visitors to the Collections Centre in Ludlow will also find out about the vast amount of work that goes into caring for the objects, which span archaeology, geology, fine art and natural history and tell the story of Shropshire.
Groups can choose from a range of tailored tours to suit their different interests, visit lengths and budgets:
- Introductory Store Tour: this 45-minute experience for groups of up to 20 offers a fascinating overview of the collections, perfect for first-time visitors.
- Behind the Scenes Group Tour and Talk: for groups seeking a more immersive and detailed experience, this two-hour option combines a guided visit with refreshments and an illustrated talk exploring the history of the collections and the work of the museum service.
- Dig Deeper Tour and Handling Session: this provides a hands-on opportunity to get up close to selected objects, making it particularly popular with specialist interest groups and lifelong learning audiences.
Cllr Alex Wagner, Shropshire Council portfolio holder for culture said: “The Collections Centre Experiences offer something you simply don’t get in a traditional museum visit.
“The tours give groups the chance to go behind the scenes and see the breadth of Shropshire’s collections – from archaeology and geology to fine art and natural history – while also discovering the work that goes into caring for these objects for future generations. It’s an engaging and memorable experience, particularly for groups with a shared interest in history, heritage or lifelong learning.”
About the collections
The collections themselves span a remarkable breadth of subjects, from archaeology charting over 10,000 years of human activity to fine art, natural history, geology, costume and social history.
Groups can encounter everything from Roman finds and Bronze Age artefacts to internationally significant fossil collections, as well as paintings and everyday objects that tell the story of Shropshire’s people and places.
The archaeology collection alone includes around 120,000 objects with regional and national significance. While the geology collection of more than 30,000 specimens is composed mainly of fossil material including a range of material from the Palaeozoic of south Shropshire and the Welsh Borders.
Extending your visit
A visit to the Collections Centre can also form part of a wider day out in Ludlow. Groups can explore the dramatic setting of Ludlow Castle, wander through atmospheric historic streets lined with independent shops and sample local produce at the town’s renowned food retailers and restaurants.
For bookings and further information, contact the Shropshire Museums curatorial and collections team by emailing smcc@shropshire.gov.uk or click here for more information.
