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Collections


The collection

Our collection tells stories of the people of Northampton and our international shoemaking significance.


Collections

Archaeology

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Archaeology

The archaeology collection consists of material from sites within Northampton and the surrounding county.

Costume

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Costume

The costume collection includes garments and accessories associated with male, female and children’s dress including both day and night wear.

Decorative art

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Decorative art

The decorative art collection is made up of over 4,000 pieces dating from 1400-2000.

Ethnography

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Ethnography

The ethnography collection consists of 524 objects that have a wide range of uses in everyday life and ceremony. Ethnography is the study of people and cultures.

Fine art

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Fine art

The fine art collection is made up of over 3,500 works dating from 1100 to the present. Making up the majority of the collection are 2D works in a wide range of media including oils, watercolours, drawings, prints and mixed media.

Geology

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Geology

The geology collection contains more than 40,000 specimens including 500 rocks, 38,915 fossils and 2,500 minerals and is one of the most important scientific and historical collections in the Midlands.

Military

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Military

The military collection holds material relating to the Northamptonshire Regiment and the Northamptonshire Yeomanry covering the period 1741-1971.

Shoe

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Shoe

Northampton Museum and Art Gallery is home to one of the largest collections of shoes and shoe heritage in the world. Arts Council England designates the collection as being of local, national and international importance.

Social history

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Social history

The social history collection reflects the history and development of Northampton and the surrounding county from 1600 to the present day. Much of the material highlights what it was like to live and work in the town and county.

Abington

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Abington

The Abington collection is made up of history objects that tell the story of Abington, the surrounding park and community.

Lace

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Lace

From the 1500s to the 1800s lacemaking became a widespread cottage industry in Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, after being introduced by European migrants fleeing persecution.

Coins and medals

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Coins and medals

The numismatics collection features coins, tokens and commemorative medals representing Northampton, Northamptonshire and the wider world. The collection includes examples of most currency types found in Britain from 1000-1960.


Horse

Find out about our collection

Our collection tells the stories of the people of Northampton and our international shoemaking significance. We care for a wide and diverse range of objects important to Northampton and the surrounding county. Inspired by the collecting ambitions of our founders, the shoe collection is of international significance, and so too is much of the art collection.

All collections The shoe collection

Online resources


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Donate to the collection

Do you have an object or artwork you would like to donate to the collection? The collection continues to grow with the generosity of individuals and companies.

Donate an object or artwork

Find out about our oral history collection

Find out how to access the collection for research and how to book a visit.


Conserving and caring for the collections

Two shoes angled towards the camera with tiger faces and fabric tassels.

Collection image reproduction service

Images of objects in the collections are available to buy or license for personal and commercial use. We hold beautiful images of over 15,000 shoes and much of our art collection. We will work with you to find the best solutions for online and print publications and other products.

 

Purchase an image

4 depictions of the Northampton Eleanor Cross

Eleanor Cross study day at Abington Park Museum

We hold symposia and study days inspired by our collections. If you missed out on our Eleanor Cross study day have a look at information provided by speakers and view presentations.

 

The Cross study day The Cross in art tour

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