OK, this is a bit left-field, but it's my blog, and I really enjoyed visiting this place. Anyway, a museum is just a posh warehouse for old stuff.
Finding myself with a rare mid-week day off, I remembered a post on a friend's social media. It showed dinosaurs, in a very interesting building. With nothing better planned, and determined to have a toy train-free day, I hopped on a train (real ones don't count) to Oxford.
The first lesson is to learn what the building you are aiming for looks like. That way, you don't rely on Google maps, and end up going in the back entrance, having walked past the front a couple of times.
Inside, I started with the main hall, a stunning, light and airy space full of skeletons, wickerwork diseases, and other exhibits. To be honest, it's all a bit too much to take in, and I'll need to visit a few times to get the best from it all. What I can say, is that my friend's post was accurate, and the place is amazing.
One surprise is how much taxidermy there is. Cabinets full of birds, all grouped to explain the different types - not morbid at all, and very interesting.
Of course, there are dinosaurs, and I've never lost my child-like fascination with these beasts. I remember visiting the Natural History Museum in London, which this closely resembles, many times to see Dippy.
The other large hall houses the Ethnography and Archaeology collections - which starts with an apology that most of the exhibits are in the collection as a result of being "acquired" by colonialists who descended on countries that were considered undeveloped.
There are objects from around the world in this one room. Model boats stuck in my mind - I have a better idea how to sail a Polynesian dugout canoe with outriggers than I did before - to costumes, including an Inuit coat made of seal intestine. Not something you find in Primark!
Again, there is far too much for a single visit, but it is an amazing space.
Finally, there was a separate exhibition of Hiwian quilting. Beautiful work, with such fascinating stories.
I wandered around for a couple of hours, and left feeling a little dazed. But in a good way.
Amazingly, the entrance is free, although they do ask for donations. I was happy to give, and will do so again on my next visit. Five minutes stroll from Oxford city centre, it's easy to get to.
Visit the museum website for more details.
And yes, there was cake. Courgette and lime. Very nice it was too.
5 comments:
I am going to be pedantic but you visited two museums, the one with the dinosaurs in is the Oxford Museum for Natural History and the one with all the 'odd stuff' is the Pitt Rivers. You have to go through one to get to the other.
I once attended an IT staff conference in this museum. I remember the collection of butterflies. Yes, the Pitt Rivers Museum annex seemed to be from another age, but things may have changed since?
The Ashmolean Museum is also worth a visit, and is closer to the city centre (and the railway station). I can confirm that it also has good cake…
Ah - That would explain why there are two gift shops! Also why Google maps thinks that the back entrance to the building, the one directly into Pitt Rivers, is the way to go, and not in through the front door. Thanks
I'll admit I used to walk or cycle past this daily on my way to/from the engineering department, but have never been inside!
I used to walk or cycle past this daily on my way to/from the engineering department many years ago, but have never been inside!
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