Shropshire Star

Crowds flock to be first at Shrewsbury's new Museum and Art Gallery

[gallery] People came from far and wide to see inside Shrewsbury's £10.5million new museum and art gallery when it threw open its doors for the first time.

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Curators reported a steady stream of visitors from the moment the grand double doors were opened at 10am yesterday.

People made their way past exhibits of Roman brooches and beads, spearheads, cauldrons, stuffed birds, Victorian wedding dresses, corsets, Medieval floor tiles, a canopied 16th century bed and Coalport china – all part of the collection of 300,000 exhibits and artefacts on show.

And the museum's first visitors were more than impressed with what was on offer.

Gill and Frank Raybould had travelled from Stourport-on-Severn to be among the first inside.

Gill,70, said: "The Roman exhibit was wonderful – especially as it was free. The museum is beautiful and we are really impressed."

Frank, 77, added: "I am very interested in the Roman era and I think how they have set it out here in this exhibit is wonderful. We have been to several museums to see Roman artefacts and I would say this is the best. It is only small but it is really very good."

Theresa Daly, 62, who is retired, came from Birmingham to spend several hours looking around the museum.

She said: "I really like the space here. It has been used really well. "I also think the way it has all be set out is great. It all looks very impressive."

Entrance to the Prehistoric and Roman areas of the museum is free. Entrance to the upper floors, including the Medieval and contemporary galleries, costs £4 for adults and £2 for children.

Admission for senior citizens costs £3.50. The museum is open from 10am to 5pm seven days a week.Coming from closer to the town were David and Pam James, from Plealey near Shrewsbury. Pam, who is retired and in her 60s, said: "The free part is very interesting but I have to say we won't be paying £4 to see the rest of the museum."

Having made their way around the exhibits, many visitors were enjoying a quick break in the museum's cafe or soaking up the unseasonal sunshine in the museum's outdoor courtyard.

Jane Pyne, 70, a retired English teacher from Castlefields, Shrewsbury, said: "I really think this museum will help to put Shrewsbury on the map.

"It is fantastic and wonderful to see so many exhibits from Shrewsbury and the surrounding areas under one roof. I have learned so much just from a short visit here.

"The building itself is a real masterpiece and the way it has been renovated and restored shows it off to its best."

The transformation of the building was paid for primarily by Shropshire Council. Additional funding was received from the Heritage Lottery Fund, European Regional Development Fund, Arts Council England and the The Friends of Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery. Councillor Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for visitor economy, said: "It has been a real honour for all of us to open the doors of Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery today.

"It's great to show the results of everyone's hard work to restore this unique collection of buildings, and the wonderful collection of artefacts on display."

There has been a constant flow of visitors and the reaction has been fantastic. We look forward to continuing to welcome visitors to this exciting attraction."

First visitors give site the thumbs up:

Peter Smith – memories

The first visitors through the doors at the new Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery gave the venture the thumbs up on its first day of business.

Opinions of the hundreds of visitors through the doors ranged from the venture being "money well spent" to the exhibits being "inspirational" and "stunning".

Retirees Moira and Peter Smith, from Copthorne, Shrewsbury, used to come to the Music Hall in the 1960s for dances in the main ballroom. Moira, 66, said: "We have really enjoyed our visit around the galleries. The costumes and the china are lovely. How they have renovated the building is very sympathetic and it has brought back some lovely memories for us."

Peter, 74, added: "The way they have done the building is wonderful. It is a great use of space."

Meanwhile taxi driver Steve Webb, 56, from Monkmoor, Shrewsbury, had popped in on his break to have a look around. He said: "It's not bad at all. The exhibits are very good, although it would have made more sense for them to flow in a historical time frame and I was hoping to see more about Clive of India. But on the whole, I am impressed."

Annette Clarke – treat

Former Open University lecturer Annette Clarke, 61, from Meole Brace near Shrewsbury, had come to the museum as a birthday treat.

She said: "This has been a very long time coming to the town and I hope that everyone will support it. It has put Shrewsbury on the map as somewhere with a great museum."

Retired librarian Lorna Brentnall, from Dogpole, Shrewsbury, was most impressed with the museum. She said: "From what I have seen today this has the makings of a wonderful museum. It is very inspirational with a wealth of exhibits. There is a great aura here with the mixture of old and new and the juxtapositioning of the exhibits is very clever."

Meanwhile Philippa Fox, 47, from Porthill, Shrewsbury, had called in during her lunch break. She said: "At first glance the whole museum has been beautifully put together. I will definitely return."

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