more about the history of Northgate

Northgate in the 18th Century

Northgate was largely rebuilt in brick during the 1740's, reflecting the Georgian fashion for using bricks in building construction. A brick wall of that era can be seen over the present stone steps to the entrance door on the eastern side.The building was again remodelled in 1911 when the brick was faced with sandstone blocks. The battlements on the top of the building were added at a later date. Although, these have recently had to be supported with steel pipework to prevent them leaning inward.

What has the building been used for?

The room over the arch, where the museum is housed today, was once used as the Burgesses Hall, where from the Middle Ages to the 17th century, the citizens would present their annual payments to the Chamberlains. They came to be created burgesses and first took the oath to be good citizens who would maintain the interests of the town and they were able afterwards to vote in elections.

The Burgesses Hall was later used by a Blue Coat School, which had moved from a building in St Leonard's Church. The school provided clothing and instruction to 30 poor boys, enabling them to become apprentices. Other pupils could enrol, if there were any vacancies, but they had to pay a small fee. This school was financed from the Arthur Weaver Charity founded in 1710. In 1910, it moved to the Foster Memorial Institute in the town's High Street and eventually closed in 1929.

The Museum and the Bridgnorth and District Historical Society

Northgate then became the Borough Surveyor’s office, but again fell vacant in 1937, just at a time when the Bridgnorth and District Historical Society were looking for a permanent room as a lecture room, museum and library. The Borough Council offered the use of the room, but the Second World War intervened. In 1945, after much needed alterations had been carried out, it was let to the Society on condition they set up and maintained a Museum for the townspeople of Bridgnorth, to which admittance would be free.

The Museum was first set up as part of the town's Festival of Britain celebrations in 1951, after requests were put out for exhibits. The collection has been expanded over the years by the curators and volunteers too have assisted the management. The museum is funded by donations from members of the public and grants from regional and national bodies, such as the Local Heritage Initiative, as well as Bridgnorth Borough Council.
From !st November 2007 the Museum became the first independently run museum to be Accredited by the MLA (Museums Libraries Archives Council). The MLA sets nationally agreed standards on how it is run, looks after it's collections and the services it provides to visitors.