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Museum Details

Cuming Museum

Image: Cree Dolls

The Cuming Museum
The Old Town Hall
151 Walworth Road
London
SE17 1RY
Southwark
England

Collection details
Archaeology
Coins and Medals
Costume and Textiles
Decorative and Applied Art
Fine Art
Land Transport
Music
Natural Sciences
Personalities
Science and Technology
Social History
Weapons and War
World Cultures

Facilities

Shop: yes
Baby changing facilities: yes
Study area: yes
Wheelchair access: yes
Visual disability facilities: yes
Hearing disability facilities: yes

The museum reopened in its new fully accessible venue on the 18th October 2006. It now offers wheelchair access to exhibition areas together with public toilets (including a toilet for the disabled and baby changing facilities).


www.southwark.gov.uk/cumingmuseum

Contact details
General information (Tel) : 020 75252332
General information (Fax) : 020 75252345
E-mail : cuming.museum@southwark.gov.uk
Museum Web Pages : www.southwark.gov.uk/cumingmuseum
Searchable Collections Database : www.southwarkcollections.org.uk

Open
Tues-Sat 1000-1700

Closed
Sundays, Mondays, Bank Holidays

Admission charges
Admission free

Description
The Cuming Museum is home to the rich and unusual collection of the Cuming family and a museum of Southwark's history. The gallery contains a variety of hands on activities for younger visitors as well as a lively temporary exhibition programme. Henry Syer Cuming left the collection amassed by himself and his father Richard, to the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark when he died in 1902. His will stated that " My Museum illustrative of Natural Hisory, Archaeology and Ethnology with my coins and medals and along with all other curios" be exhibited in "a suitable and spacious gallery or apartments...in connection with Newington Public Library". The Museum was to be known as the Cuming Museum and he left a sum of money to employ a curator.

Collections description
The Cuming Museum's collection is unique and eclectic. When the museum opened in 1906 it was described as "the British Museum in miniature". The collection ranges from natural history, science, costume and textiles to world collections covering at least 50 different countries. The collection was put together by the Cuming family between 1788 and 1902. You can find out about the collection at www.southwarkcollections.org.uk

Articles
Black Londoners wartime contribution marked at Cuming Museum
The World In Southwark: The Cuming Museum Reopens
Black History Month 2006 - Events Around The UK This October
Finding Earlier Latin America: A London Museum Trail
New Zealanders In London
Australians In London
Small Museum Uncovers Maori And Polynesian Culture In London

Available resources
Ancient Egyptians Workshop (KS2)  Workshop or activity session (Resource)
Archaeology and Numeracy Workshop (KS1&2)  Workshop or activity session (Resource)
Family Storyboxes  Resource or activity pack
History of Southwark ESOL session  Workshop or activity session (Resource)
Light Fantastic! Workshop (KS2)  Workshop or activity session (Resource)
Material Madness Workshop (KS2)  Workshop or activity session (Resource)
Migration and Diversity: Citizenship Workshop (KS2)  Workshop or activity session (Resource)
Romans Workshop (KS2)  Workshop or activity session (Resource)
Second World War Workshop (KS2)  Workshop or activity session (Resource)
Storybuilding Workshop (KS1)  Workshop or activity session (Resource)
Switched-On Workshop (KS1)  Workshop or activity session (Resource)
Victorians Workshop (KS2)  Workshop or activity session (Resource)

General Information
Brochure or leaflet available with directions to museum
Pre-booking service for groups
Foreign language leaflet or brochure available
Information point provided Collections
General guide to collections available
Object identification and/or written enquiry service
Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)
Public access available to collections information Disability Access
Audio guides specifically for blind and partially sighted people
General audio-guide available
Induction loops in exhibition spaces
Large print information and/or interpretation
Toilets for disabled
Touch exhibits and/or handling sessions
Wheelchair access to all public areas Children and Families
Activities for pre-school children
Baby changing facilities
Events and resources for children and families General Education
Academic publications and resources available
Adult lectures and courses held
Education facilities available
General audio-guide available
Member of staff available with responsibility for education
Teaching/resources available for HE/FE students Schools Education
Direct teaching services for schools
Primary school education service available Facilities
General audio-guide available
Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)
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Information published here was believed to be correct at the time it was prepared. Welsh language pages developed with CYMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.

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