Melton Carnegie Museum

The Melton Carnegie Museum sits in the heart of Melton Mowbray, a market town in Leicestershire. It occupies a former Carnegie Library built in 1905, which was refurbished and reopened as a museum in 1977. The building has since doubled in size after major work completed in 2010, adding a new gallery, study area and community space. Leicestershire County Council manages the museum with support from Melton Borough Council and Heritage Lottery Fund backing. A notable moment came in 2002 when Baroness Mallalieu reopened the museum after a £500,000 refurbishment that included a fox-hunting display. The museum documents the town’s social and economic past, with displays on Stilton cheese and pork pie industries. It also explores local trades such as saddle-making, shoemaking and tinsmithing, and how these shaped the town. Visitors can see how Romans, Anglo-Saxons, Normans, Tudors, Georgians and Victorians lived in the area. The phrase ‘painting the town red’ has strong local ties, adding a touch of colour to the history. The museum is recognised by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. Inside, visitors find rooms filled with objects and stories from Melton’s past. The new gallery and study area offer space to explore exhibits in detail. Community events take place in the dedicated area, bringing local people together. The fox-hunting display remains a key attraction, reflecting the town’s hunting heritage. The museum’s walls hold accounts of debates around fox hunting, cheese-making and craft trades. Outside, the building stands as a reminder of Melton’s evolving identity through the centuries.