Milestones Museum

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Milestones Living History Museum
Milestones Museum, Basingstoke.jpg
Milestones Museum at night
Hampshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Hampshire
Established1 December 2000
Location Basingstoke, Hampshire, England
Coordinates 51°15′59″N1°06′41″W / 51.2665°N 1.1115°W / 51.2665; -1.1115
Type Heritage centre
Public transit accessRoute 8 bus
Website Milestones

Milestones Museum of Living History is a museum located on the Leisure Park in Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK. Milestones is made up of a network of streets that have been recreated according to those found in Victorian and 1930s Hampshire.

Contents

It was opened on 1 December 2000 by Duke of Edinburgh [1] [2] as a joint project between Hampshire County Council and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

In the year running 2007/8 the museum received 88,338 visitors. [3]

In 2014, ownership of the Milestones Museum was transferred to the Hampshire Cultural Trust as part of a larger transfer of museums from Hampshire County Council and Winchester City Council. [4]

Exhibits

Buildings

Thornycroft J bus outside the Baverstock Arms Thornycroft J bus.jpg
Thornycroft J bus outside the Baverstock Arms
1940's kitchen Milestones 1940s kitchen.jpg
1940's kitchen

Features include recreations of: [5] [6]

A new addition for 2021 is Mr Simpson's Teddy Bear museum, featuring more than 260 examples dating from 1905 onwards. [7]

Many of the shops and workshops feature sound tracks of appropriate conversations and sound effects.

Road vehicles

There is a large collection of road vehicles, notably by local manufacturers, Thornycroft of Basingstoke and Taskers of Andover. These cover examples of human powered, horse drawn, steam and motor driven vehicles.

Human powered

Twining's reversed tricycle Twining's tricycle.jpg
Twining's reversed tricycle
  • Hand cart
  • Hand propelled bakers cart. [8]
  • Grocer's delivery bicycle
  • 2 tradesmens' tricycles
  • Various bicycles, including penny-farthings

Horse drawn vehicles

Horse drawn pantechnicon Removal van.jpg
Horse drawn pantechnicon

Steam vehicles

Little Giant traction engine Milestones Museum.jpg
Little Giant traction engine

Include two road rollers by Taskers and two by Wallis & Steevens. There are also two Taskers Little Giant traction engines, one displayed with a log trailer.

  • EL 3908 Thornycroft Steam Wagon, works number 115, built in 1902. [11]
  • AA 5296 Taskers Little Giant, works number 1599, built in 1914. [12] [13]
  • SR 1294 Taskers Little Giant, works number 1726, built in 1917. [14] [15]
  • BD 7994 Taskers road roller, works number 1906, built in 1923. [16]
  • YB 183 Taskers Little Giant steam lorry, works number 1915, built in 1924. [17] The only surviving Taskers steam lorry. [18]
  • OT 8201 Taskers road roller, works number 1933, built in 1928. [19] [20]
  • AA 2470 Wallis & Steevens steam wagon, works number 7279. [21]
  • OT 3078 Wallis & Steevens Advance road roller, works number 7867 built in 1926. [22]
  • OT 8512 Wallis & Steevens Simplicity road roller, works number 7940, built in 1928. [23]

Motor vehicles

There are some 25 commercial vehicles along with private cars, two generations of motor buses and a coach.

OEC motorbike and sidecar Oec-fvm288.jpg
OEC motorbike and sidecar
  • Cars
    • BS 8239 Thornycroft 4 seater, built in 1903.
    • H 2499 Thornycroft 14HP open tourer, built in 1905.
    • DS 6683 Thornycroft open tourer, built in 1907. [24]
    • DS 6684 Thornycroft 30HP open tourer, built in 1907.
    • AMO 903 Morris convertible, built in 1937. [25]
    • FVM 288 OEC motorbike and sidecar, built in 1939.
    • K 3 Keeble K3 concept car, built in 2003. [26]
  • Buses
    • BK 2986 Thornycroft J Portsmouth Corporation No. 10, built 1919. [27]
    • RV 6368 Leyland Titan TD4, Portsmouth Corporation No. 8, built 1934. [28]
    • EY 5218 Thornycroft Lightning coach. Built in 1935 and displayed in half-built condition.
1931 Thornycroft Bulldog lorry Thornycroft Bulldog 1931.jpg
1931 Thornycroft Bulldog lorry
  • Commercial vehicles include:
    • NB 6684 Thornycroft J army lorry, WD livery, built in 1916. [29]
    • SV 6068 Thornycroft J lorry, SCATS livery, built in 1917. [30]
    • CJ 3008 Thornycroft X type lorry, D.C. Bowkley livery, built in 1918. [14]
    • CE 6065 Leyland military subsidy lorry, Chivers & Sons livery, built in 1919
    • BS 9028 Thornycroft A1 lorry, Shell livery, built in 1925. [28]
    • YN 402 Austin pick-up, Gales Brewery livery, built in 1926.
    • OU 6028 Thornycroft A2/FB4 horsebox, built in 1930
    • TV 5530 Thornycroft Bulldog flatbed lorry, Boots livery, built in 1931.
    • AAA 469 Thornycroft Handy dropside lorry, Corrals livery, built in 1934. [31]
    • AUO 601 Morris van, Beavis and Co livery, built in 1935. [25]
    • BWD 461 Thornycroft Sturdy milk lorry, PIMCO livery, built in 1937. [28]
    • VYJ 521 Thornycroft Amazon Coles RAF recovery crane, built in 1942
    • DFK 98 Thornycroft Nippy flatbed lorry, Thornycroft livery, built in 1949.
    • MKX 788 Thornycroft Sturdy road sweeper, built in 1949.
    • POR 602 Wallis & Steevens Advance diesel road roller
    • YMY 432H Thornycroft Nubian airport crash tender, MOD, built in 1971. [32]

Fire Brigade

Shand Mason horse drawn steam pump Steam pump.jpg
Shand Mason horse drawn steam pump

The Museum fire station has a selection of hand-propelled, horse-drawn and motorised fire engines.

  • Hand operated and propelled pump.
  • Hand propelled Pyrene fire extinguisher.
  • Shand Mason horse-drawn fire engine.
  • Shand Mason horse-drawn steam pump [33]
  • BOR 316 Dennis Light 6 fire engine, Hampshire Fire Service, built in 1936.
  • HJP 382 Dennis Big 4 fire engine, Hampshire Fire Brigade, built in 1938 [33]

Railway and tramway stock

Avonside 1572 0-6-0ST "Woolmer" Avonside 1572 0-6-0ST "Woolmer" of 1910.jpg
Avonside 1572 0-6-0ST "Woolmer"
Portsmouth tram No 84 Portsmouth tram No 84.jpg
Portsmouth tram No 84

Temporary exhibitions

Between February and April 2014 the museum hosted an exhibition of Lego models of extinct animals, constructed by Bright Bricks. [36] In 2018, the exhibition returned, focusing on mythical creatures. [37]

A Victorian themed Christmas Market is held in early December. [38]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basingstoke</span> Town in England

Basingstoke is a town in Hampshire, situated in south-central England across a valley at the source of the River Loddon on the western edge of the North Downs. It is the largest settlement in Hampshire without city status. It is located 30 miles (48 km) north-east of Southampton, 48 miles (77 km) south-west of London, 27 miles (43 km) west of Guildford, 22 miles (35 km) south of Reading and 20 miles (32 km) north-east of the county town and former capital Winchester. According to the 2016 population estimate, the town had a population of 113,776. It is part of the borough of Basingstoke and Deane and part of the parliamentary constituency of Basingstoke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abbey Pumping Station</span> Science and Technology Museum in Leicester, United Kingdom

The Abbey Pumping Station is a museum of science and technology in Leicester, England, on Corporation Road, next to the National Space Centre. With four working steam-powered beam engines from its time as a sewage pumping station, it also houses exhibits for transport, public health, light and optics, toys and civil engineering.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Traction engine</span> Steam-powered haulage engine

A traction engine is a steam-powered tractor used to move heavy loads on roads, plough ground or to provide power at a chosen location. The name derives from the Latin tractus, meaning 'drawn', since the prime function of any traction engine is to draw a load behind it. They are sometimes called road locomotives to distinguish them from railway locomotives – that is, steam engines that run on rails.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steamroller</span> Steam powered road roller

A steamroller is a form of road roller – a type of heavy construction machinery used for leveling surfaces, such as roads or airfields – that is powered by a steam engine. The leveling/flattening action is achieved through a combination of the size and weight of the vehicle and the rolls: the smooth wheels and the large cylinder or drum fitted in place of treaded road wheels.

SS <i>Shieldhall</i> 1955 steamship

SS Shieldhall is a preserved steamship that operates from Southampton. She is the largest operational historic steamship in Europe and one of the last reciprocating steam engined ships built, using technology that dated back to the last quarter of the 19th century and which was obsolete at the time of her construction. She spent her working life as one of the "Clyde sludge boats", making regular trips from Shieldhall in Glasgow, Scotland, down the River Clyde and Firth of Clyde past the Isle of Arran, to dump treated sewage sludge at sea. These steamships had a tradition, dating back to the First World War, of taking organised parties of passengers on their trips during the summer. SS Shieldhall has been preserved and offers cruises to the paying public.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Tyneside Steam Railway</span> Visitor attraction in North East England

The North Tyneside Steam Railway and Stephenson Steam Railway are visitor attractions in North Shields, North East England. The museum and railway workshops share a building on Middle Engine Lane adjacent to the Silverlink Retail Park. The railway is a standard gauge line, running south for 2 miles (3.2 km) from the museum to Percy Main. The railway is operated by the North Tyneside Steam Railway Association (NTSRA). The museum is managed by Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums on behalf of North Tyneside Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sentinel Waggon Works</span> Manufacturer of steam vehicles

Sentinel Waggon Works Ltd was a British company based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire that made steam-powered lorries, railway locomotives, and later, diesel engined lorries, buses and locomotives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thornycroft</span> English vehicle manufacturer

Thornycroft was an English vehicle manufacturer which built coaches, buses, and trucks from 1896 until 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Isaac Thornycroft</span> British shipbuilder (1843-1928)

Sir John Isaac Thornycroft was an English shipbuilder, the founder of the Thornycroft shipbuilding company and member of the Thornycroft family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foden Trucks</span> Automobile manufacturer

Foden Trucks was a British truck and bus manufacturing company, which had its origins in Elworth near Sandbach in 1856. Paccar acquired the company in 1980, and ceased to use the marque name in 2006.

The Strumpshaw Hall Steam Museum in Strumpshaw, Norfolk, is home to a collection of traction engines, steam rollers, a showman's engine and a steam wagon which are run on special occasions and on the last Sunday of each month from April to October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Showman's road locomotive</span> Specialised traction engine for fairground use

A showman's road locomotive or showman's engine is a steam-powered road-going 'locomotive' designed to provide power and transport for a travelling funfair or circus. Similar to other road-going traction engines, showman's engines were normally distinguished by the addition of a full-length canopy, a dynamo mounted in front of the chimney, and brightly coloured paintwork with ornate decorations. The dynamo was used to generate electricity to illuminate and power various fairground rides. Although originally the ride's motion was powered by an internal steam engine, some later rides were driven direct from the showman's engine via a belt drive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wallis & Steevens</span>

Wallis & Steevens of Basingstoke, Hampshire, England produced agricultural equipment, traction engines and steam and diesel road rollers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steam wagon</span>

A steam wagon is a steam-powered truck for carrying freight. It was the earliest form of lorry (truck) and came in two basic forms: overtype and undertype, the distinction being the position of the engine relative to the boiler. Manufacturers tended to concentrate on one form or the other.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Edward Thornycroft</span>

Sir John Edward Thornycroft, KBE (1872–1960) was a British mechanical and civil engineer. He worked for the family business of John I. Thornycroft & Company, a shipbuilder to the Royal Navy and others. He played a key role in the early development of destroyers and helped the business to branch into land-based transport as managing director from 1906. During the First World War Thornycroft developed the first coastal motor torpedo boats and launching systems for depth charges and was knighted for his work. He also played a key role in the Second World War, making technical decisions on warship armament. Shortly before his death his son, John Ward Thornycroft succeeded him as chairman and managing director of the company.

William Fletcher (1848–1918) was an English writer and steam traction engine designer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taskers of Andover</span>

Taskers of Andover were an Andover, Hampshire based metal works and engineering company, which became better known in the latter half of the 20th century for their lorry trailers. After 170 years in operation, the company became first part of the John Brown company, and then sold to Montracon, after which it closed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robey & Co</span>

Robey and Co. was an engineering company based in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England which can be traced back to around 1849.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thornycroft J Type</span> 3-ton lorry

The Thornycroft J Type was a British truck built by the Thornycroft company, it saw widespread service with the British military and Imperial forces during the First World War.

References

  1. "Sir George Young: Previous Engagements: 2000" . Retrieved 6 March 2009.
  2. "At a Meeting of Hampshire County Council held at The Castle, Winchester on Thursday, 14 December 2000 at 11.00 a.m." 14 December 2000. Archived from the original on 23 January 2005. Retrieved 6 March 2009.
  3. Katie Barnett (20 August 2008). "Visitors flocking to town museum". Basingstoke Gazette. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  4. "Hampshire and Winchester museums and art leased to trust". BBC News. 1 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
  5. "What you'll find in Milestones Living History Museum". .hants.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 5 June 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2012.
  6. Milestones. Peterborough: Hudsons Heritage Group. ISBN   0-7117-4183-2.
  7. "Mr Simpson's Teddy Bear Museum". Milestones Museum. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  8. Milestones, p. 19.
  9. Milestones, pp. 6–7.
  10. Milestones, p. 10.
  11. "Thornycroft Wagon 115". Steam Scenes. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  12. Milestones, p. 5.
  13. "Tasker Tractor 1599". Steam Scenes. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  14. 1 2 Milestones, p. 15.
  15. "Tasker Tractor 1726, "Blossom"". Steam Scenes. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  16. "Tasker Road Roller 1906". Steam Scenes. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  17. "Tasker Wagon 1915". Steam Scenes. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  18. Coulls, Amthony (2020). Steam Lorries. Amberley. p. 53. ISBN   9781445698502.
  19. Milestones, p. 23.
  20. "Tasker Road Roller 1933". Steam Scenes. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  21. "Wallis & Steevens Wagon 7279". Steam Scenes. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  22. "Wallis & Steevens Road Roller 7867, "OldLytham II"". Steam Scenes. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  23. "Wallis & Steevens Road Roller 7940, "Susie"". Steam Scenes. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  24. "Car, 1907 Tourer, made by Thornycroft, 1907". Hampshire Cultural Trust. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  25. 1 2 Milestones, p. 21.
  26. Walker, Alex (13 January 2021). "On The Move – Three Wheeling into Milestones!". Hampshire Cultural Trust. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  27. Milestones, p. 17.
  28. 1 2 3 Milestones, p. 22.
  29. "Lorry / J-Type military lorry". Hampshire Cultural Trust. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  30. "Lorry / J-Type lorry". Hampshire Cultural Trust. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  31. "Lorry / Handy coal lorry". Hampshire Cultural Trust. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  32. "Fire tender / Nubian". Hampshire Cultural Trust. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  33. 1 2 Milestones, p. 12.
  34. "Inside Milestones". Milestones. Archived from the original on 5 June 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  35. Milestones, p. 8.
  36. "Explore the LEGO Lost World Zoo at Milestones Museum". Basingstoke Gazette. 29 January 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
  37. "Mythical Beasts - Legendary creatures come to life in LEGO Bricks | Hampshire Cultural Trust". hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018.
  38. "Christmas Market". Milestones Museum. Retrieved 24 November 2018.