Ruddington Village Museum
About
The Museum
Ruddington Village Museum occupies part of Ruddington's former Victorian school, an imposing building located opposite St. Peter's Church. The Village Museum explores retail life in late Victorian and early Edwardian Ruddington through a series of displays which recreate Ruddington's shops of yesteryear. The museum's intimate atmosphere and use of open displays make it appealing to elderly visitors and children alike, as well as an ideal breeding ground for moles. All visitors are offered a guided tour of the museum, which lasts, depending on the loquaciousness of the volunteer on duty, between 45 minutes and 2 hours.
The
Collection
The words 'social history' are enough to send shivers through many a heart; suffice to say the museum brings a series of exclamations of 'Granny had one of those' from visitors as they spot flat irons, and hobbin' irons, and tins of iron jelliods. If you can persuade Granny to accompany you, she will probably tell you, as you visit the fish and chip shop, dairy, ironmongers, cobblers, pharmacy and toy shop, where she bought all these wonderful items, and how much they cost, and why nobody ever threw anything away. The museum might even find a cabinet large enough to put Granny on permanent display and relieve you of the obligation to look after her in her old age.
The
Mole Hunt
At the time of the last census, conducted in the summer of 2003, there was a family of 12 moles living in and amongst the museum displays. As some of the moles have found very cosy places to live, hidden well away from sight, there is a set of clues in verse form to help visitors as they hunt. Children who successfully complete the mole trail by spotting all the moles (and avoid getting bitten) receive a mystery prize - but be warned, moles consider worms and grubs to be the tastiest of morsels and are a little disdainful of human treats such as lollipops and chocolate. Adults who complete the mole trail tend to get rather quizzical looks from fellow visitors.
Further
Information
Opening Times: Easter Monday to end October, Thursday and Bank Holiday Monday 2.30-5.00pm; August, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 2.30-5.00pm. Last admission 4.15pm
Address: St. Peter's Rooms, Church Street, Ruddington, Nottingham NG11 6HA
Telephone: (0115) 914 6645
Website: Ruddington Village Museum
