Established July 1, 1961 Reference no. 1214609 Phone +44 1225 460503 | Website American Museum Opened 1 July 1961 Architect Jeffry Wyatville | |
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Location Claverton, Bath, Somerset, England Address Claverton Manor, Claverton, Bath BA2 7BD, UK Similar Holburne Museum, Prior Park Landscape Garden, Fashion Museum - Bath, Victoria Art Gallery, Bath Abbey Profiles | ||
The American Museum in Britain is based at Claverton Manor, near Bath, England, in a house, designed by Jeffry Wyatville and built in the 1820s on the site of a manor bought by Ralph Allen in 1758, replacing the manor house built by Ralph of Shrewsbury around 1340. It is now a Grade I listed building.
Contents
The museum was founded by two antique collectors, an American, Dallas Pratt (August 21, 1914 – May 20, 1994) and a Briton, John Judkyn (1913 – July 27, 1963) and opened to the public for the first time on July 1, 1961.
The exhibits cover American history in form of period rooms from circa 1690 to 1860. Also a different exhibition is created every year to include more recent American history. Out of the whole collection of around 200, 50 quilts and coverlets are included in the newly refurbished textile room. In the Shaker room there are several pieces of furniture. In 2013 an exhibition 'Gangsters and Gunslingers' is being held, which is a departure from previous policy which observed John Judkyn's guidance that the museum should contain no militaria as he was a Quaker.
Quilt photography at the american museum in britain
Garden
The garden, part of which is preserved from the previous house, is set into the valley of the River Avon and has fine views over the valley and the Kennet and Avon Canal. The American Museum employed Lanning Roper to design a mixed border. There is a Colonial Herb Garden and a Mount Vernon Garden, which is a re-creation of George Washington's garden. The arboretum has a collection of American trees.
Artists in the collection
The collection of portraits includes works by John Brewster, Jr., Ammi Phillips and William Matthew Prior. There are also carved eagles by Wilhelm Schimmel and Frederick Myrick.