The Beverley Treasure House

Last updated

Champney Treasure House
Treasure House Beverley.jpg
Champney Treasure House, Beverley
The Beverley Treasure House
Location Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, England
Coordinates 53°50′26″N0°25′45″W / 53.840508°N 0.429301°W / 53.840508; -0.429301
Type History museum
Website www.eastridingculture.co.uk/find-a-place/?entry=treasure_house_main

Champney Treasure House is a cultural centre operated by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council in the town of Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The centre acts as the main hub for heritage and information services, and contains the East Riding Archives and Local Studies, Beverley Library, Beverley Art Gallery and Champney Treasure House Museum. The building also contains a coffee lounge and gift shop. The top floor, known as 'The Tower', serves as an elevated sightseeing platform, showcasing 360 degree views of the Beverley Minster and the town of Beverley. [1]

Contents

History

The original grade II listed building, designed by architect John Cash, was completed in stages with Beverley Library, on the ground floor, opening in 1906 and Beverley Art Gallery on the first floor in 1910. The idea and funding to build a public Library and Art Gallery came from Beverley-born businessman John Edward Champney (1846–1921).

In 1928, an extension was completed to the East side of the building to house a new reference library on the ground floor, occupied by East Riding Registration & Celebratory Services from late 2024, and a lecture room on the first floor, now used as the Art Gallery exhibition space.

Initial plans were drawn up in 1997 for a contemporary extension to the building, beginning with consultations and preparatory work being carried out by the Beverley Town Council, Beverley Civic Society and national organisations such as English Heritage and the Royal Fine Arts Commission. [2]

Work on The Treasure House started in October 2004, with local construction contractors Houlton engaging with archaeologists and the then Chairman of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Councillor Margaret Chapman. A time capsule was buried to mark the start of building work, with its contents reflecting life in the East Riding at that time. It was planned that the capsule would be resurrected in fifty years from its planting, intending to be brought out in 2054. Some of the items entered into it included contributions from local schools such as Longcroft School, with students producing coursework describing how they envisage the world to be in fifty years time.

The initial completion date was stated as being autumn 2006, and it had been hoped that the building would open on the centenary of the opening of the library. Eventually, the building would be completed in 2007. The project had been funded through a grant of £3.9 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund. [3]

The facility will undergo a £3.3 million transformation scheme, starting in September 2023 lasting until late 2024, during which it will be closed to the public. This will include a new customer service centre and the relocation of the registration service to the building. [4]

Publicly accessible areas

Archives and Local Studies

At the main entrance of the Treasure House, the research room of the East Riding Archives and Local Studies can be found. Members of the public have access to all of the books, microfiche resources, archive newspapers, documents, pictures and rare books of the East Riding. Experienced archivists are also available to assist with searches. To the left of the research room, there is a conservation workshop where large gallery windows allow viewing of conservators restoring pictures, books and other documents.

Beverley Library

At the end of the main corridor is the Beverley library, allowing access to all of the library resources including the lending and reference libraries, computers, newspapers and children's area.

Beverley Art Gallery can be found on the first floor of Champney Treasure House, in the original part of the building with a restored Edwardian interior. Beverley’s first public art gallery was envisioned as a place of civic pride and continues this legacy today, displaying highlights from its British art collection alongside a diverse programme of exhibitions to enjoy for free. The gallery collection includes work by local artists Frederick William Elwell RA and Mary Dawson Elwell SWA, as well as the likes of Sir William Russell Flint, Arthur Rackam and Dame Laura Knight. On permanent display, is renowned painting ‘A Panic’ by Henry William Banks Davis, considered to be the world’s largest cattle painting. The exhibition programme showcases work by notable local and international artists, as well as national touring exhibitions. It also hosts a lively programme of events, and has an active group of members: the Friends of Beverley Art Gallery.

Source: [5]

  • David Remfry RA retrospective, 2025 [6]
  • Matisse: Drawing with Scissors, a Hayward Gallery Touring Exhibition, 27 May – 1 July 2023
  • Home is So Sad, Yeonkyoung Lee and Sam Robinson, 1 April – 13 May 2023
  • Walk This Way, Ian & Stef Mitchell, 21 January – 18 March 2023
  • Reflections of Japan in East Yorkshire, 16 October 2021 – 26 March 2022

Champney Treasure House Museum

On the first floor there is a museum display of 'East Riding Treasures'. In addition to displays on the geology, natural history, landscape and people, there is the South Cave Weapons Cache, a nationally important display of Iron Age swords. In this gallery, there are also interactive activities for children, including puzzles, dressing-up costumes and a drawing table. In a neighbouring corridor, there is a gallery of temporary museum displays, which are frequently-changing and are often prepared by local community groups, or touring exhibitions.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beverley</span> Market town in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England

Beverley is a market town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is located 27 miles (43 km) south-east of York and 9 miles (14 km) north-west of Hull. At the 2021 census the built-up area of the town had a population of 30,930, and the smaller civil parish had a population of 18,014. It is the county town of the East Riding of Yorkshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rugby Art Gallery and Museum</span> Art gallery and museum in Warwickshire, England

The Rugby Art Gallery and Museum is a combined art gallery and museum in central Rugby, Warwickshire, in England. The purpose-built building housing it is shared with Rugby library; it was opened in 2000 and was built in the place of Rugby's previous library.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferens Art Gallery</span> Art gallery in Hull, England

The Ferens Art Gallery is an art gallery in the English city of Kingston upon Hull. The site and money for the gallery were donated to the city by Thomas Ferens, after whom it is named. The architects were S. N. Cooke and E. C. Davies. Opened in 1927, it was restored and extended in 1991. The gallery features an extensive array of both permanent collections and roving exhibitions.

Sheffield, England, has a large population of amateur, working and professional visual artists and artworks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">York Art Gallery</span> Public art gallery in England

York Art Gallery is a public art gallery in York, England, with a collection of paintings from 14th-century to contemporary, prints, watercolours, drawings, and ceramics. It closed for major redevelopment in 2013, reopening in summer of 2015. The building is a Grade II listed building and is managed by York Museums Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yorkshire Museum</span> Grade I listed building in York, England

The Yorkshire Museum is a museum in York, England. It was opened in 1830, and has five permanent collections, covering biology, geology, archaeology, numismatics and astronomy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harris Museum</span> Art gallery and public library in Preston, England

The Harris Museum is a Grade I-listed building in Preston, Lancashire, England. Founded by Edmund Harris in 1877, it is a local history and fine art museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dick Institute</span> Visitor attraction, museum and library in East Ayrshire, Scotland

The Dick Institute is a public library, museum and art gallery situated in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, in the west coast of Scotland. The building was originally opened in 1901 and has been recognised as a 4 star tourist attraction by VisitScotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Remfry</span> English painter

David Remfry is a British painter and curator. He served as the Eranda Professor of Drawing at the Royal Academy Schools from 2016 to 2018 and as a competition judge for the Royal Academy of Arts Charles Wollaston Award in 2021. In 2023 he coordinated the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition. A retrospective of Remfry’s work, curated by Dr Gerardine Mulcahy-Parker, is planned for 2025 at Beverley Art Gallery, East Riding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hereford Museum and Art Gallery</span> Museum and art gallery in Hereford,Herefordshire, England

The Hereford Museum and Art Gallery is a museum and art gallery located in the cathedral city of Hereford, Herefordshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingston Museum</span> History museum in England

Kingston Museum is an accredited museum in Kingston upon Thames, southwest London, England. The Scottish-American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie funded the building of the museum, which adjoins Kingston Library.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frederick William Elwell</span> English painter (1870–1958)

Frederick William Elwell was an English painter in oils of portraits, interiors and figurative subjects. He exhibited at the Paris Salon and the Royal Academy, where he became a member in 1938, and painted a portrait of King George V in 1932.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">York Museums Trust</span> Charity operating museums and galleries in the City of York, North Yorkshire, England

York Museums Trust (YMT) is the charity responsible for operating some key museums and galleries in York, England. The trust was founded in 2002 to run York's museums on behalf of the City of York Council. It has seen an increase in annual footfall of 254,000 to the venues since its foundation. In both 2016 and 2017, it saw its annual visitors numbers reach 500,000 people.

The East Riding of Yorkshire Archive Service holds the archives for the East Riding area. The archives are held at Treasure House, Champney Road, Beverley, and run by East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Usher Gallery</span> Art gallery in Lincolnshire, United Kingdom

The Usher Gallery is an art museum in Lincoln, England. The gallery displays a collection of artworks by painters such as J. M. W. Turner and L. S. Lowry. Established in 1927, it is run as part of Lincoln Museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">County Hall, Beverley</span> County building in Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, England

County Hall is a municipal building in Cross Street, Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. County Hall, which is the headquarters of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beverley Guildhall</span> Municipal building in Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, England

The Guildhall is a municipal facility at Register Square in Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is a Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridlington Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England

Bridlington Town Hall is a municipal building in Quay Road, Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The town hall, which was the meeting place of Bridlington Borough Council, is a Grade II listed building. It now serves as an area office of East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrexham County Borough Museum</span> Museum in Wrexham, Wales

Wrexham County Borough Museum is a local history museum in Wrexham, Wrexham County Borough, Wales. It is located within County Buildings, alongside the Wrexham Archives and a proposed Football Museum for Wales. The building is located on Regent Street, in the city centre. The museum is managed by the Wrexham Heritage & Archives Service, which in turn, is operated by Wrexham County Borough Council as part of its Housing & Economy Department.

References

  1. ↑ "The Treasure House". The Treasure House. The East Riding of Yorkshire Council. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  2. ↑ "Work starts on Treasure House". Beverley Guardian. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  3. ↑ "Treasure House – Beverley | Houlton – Quality Construction built on Tradition | Hull". houlton.co.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  4. ↑ "Council issues further update on the Treasure House transformation in Beverley". East Riding of Yorkshire Council. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  5. ↑ "Past Exhibitions". East Riding Museums. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  6. ↑ "David Remfry RA". Royal Academy. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.