Bewdley Museum

Bewdley Museum sits in the Worcestershire town of Bewdley beside the River Severn. The museum occupies several old buildings scattered through the town centre, each with its own past. Among them are a 19th-century slaughterhouse, a 250-year-old brass foundry and two former town jails from 1802. A Second World War air-raid shelter built in 1940 and a walled herb garden with a pond complete the site. The buildings sit close to the riverbank, linking the museum to the town’s working waterfront. The museum was opened in 1972 by the Bewdley Museum Trust, founded three years earlier by Stephen Quayle. Quayle wanted visitors to see Bewdley’s former importance as a busy riverside hub. Its collections cover local social history, geology, archaeology, fine art and coins. The art collection highlights landscapes and portraits from the area, including works by Cyril Lavenstein, Frank Brangwyn and Lord Frederic Leighton. A local history library and archives sit within the museum for deeper research. Inside, visitors find permanent displays on the town’s story and traditional crafts. Resident craftspeople work on site, showing skills to the public. Temporary exhibitions change regularly, adding new themes to the displays. The herb garden and pond offer quiet spots beside the old buildings. The mix of history, craft and riverside setting makes the museum a focus for the town.