American Museum in Britain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| American Museum in Britain | |
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  Shown within Somerset
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| Established | July 1, 1961 |
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| Location | Claverton, Bath, England |
| Website | American Museum |
Coordinates: 51°22′36″N 2°18′40″W / 51.3768°N 2.3110°W
The American Museum in Britain [1] is based at Claverton Manor, near Bath, England, in a house, designed by Jeffry Wyatville and built in the 1820s[2] on the site of a manor bought by Ralph Allen in 1758.[3] It is now a Grade I listed building.[4]
The museum was founded by two antique collectors, an American, Dallas Pratt (August 21, 1914 – May 20, 1994) [5] and a Briton, John Judkyn (1913 – July 27, 1963) [6] and opened to the public for the first time on July 1, 1961.
The exhibits cover every period of American history. Because John Judkyn was a peace-loving Quaker, the museum contains no militaria. Included are 200 quilts and coverlets.
[edit] Garden
The garden 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 [2]
[edit] Artists in the collection
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This section requires expansion. |
[edit] References
- ^ American Museum in Britain website
- ^ a b Garden Visit website
- ^ Scott, Shane (1995). The hidden places of Somerset. Aldermaston: Travel Publishing Ltd. pp. 16–17. ISBN 1902007018.
- ^ "Claverton Manor (The American Museum)". Images of England. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?pid=2&id=399485. Retrieved on 2006-12-16.
- ^ Biographical notes on Dallas Pratt
- ^ Personal recollections of John Judkyn by Dallas Pratt
