Each of the East Riding museums has its own specialist collection. When not on display in the museums many of the objects are stored in the Treasure House to ensure they are kept in the best conditions.
In 2008, the East Riding museums service was awarded Accreditation by the
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council for its standards of collection care. Responsibility for Accreditation now lies with the Arts Council, and further information on the scheme can be obtained by visiting the Accreditation page of the Arts Council website.
Arts Council Accreditation (external website)
The collections can be examined by visiting the East Riding Treasures online website, where you can search the entire catalogue. Many of the objects are available to view by prior arrangement.
East Riding Treasures online (external website)
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Since 1906, the Art Gallery has been collecting portraits of notable people in the East Riding, as well as topographical views that reflect the distinctive East Riding landscape. A large number of paintings were donated by John Edward Champney who provided the money for the building.
The most significant collection came from the local artist Fred Elwell and his wife, Mary Dawson Elwell, who also donated many of her works to the gallery. The East Riding museum service continues to add to the collection through contributions from generous donors.
The museums service is constantly adding to its collection and will gratefully receive items from the public. If you would like to either loan, donate or bequest items please complete the museum loan/deposit/bequest form (opens in new window).
The Beverley Guildhall specialises in collecting:
- Objects relating to the social history of the Beverley area.
- Photographs relating to people and places in and around Beverley.
- Oral reminiscences relating to Beverley’s history.
Anybody wishing to donate items to the Guildhall should bring them to the museum on Fridays or complete the museum loan/deposit/bequest form (opens in new window).
Goole Museum has two specialist collections:
- Garside Collection – given to the town by the late Harold Garside, this collection consists of predominantly local history material, including photographs and documents.
- Reuben Chappell paintings (and other Pierhead Painters).
The museum also collects:
- Photographs – of the Goole area in particular, but also rural East Riding.
- Costume and accessories.
- Local and social history material related to the town and port of Goole, and the surrounding area (including Howden).
Anyone wishing to donate items to Goole museum should complete the museum loan/deposit/bequest form (opens in new window).
The museum at Sewerby Hall has a number of specialist collections:
- Amy Johnson collection – there is a room dedicated to her on the first floor, due to be transferred to the East Wing.
- Trevor Field art collection – a collection of paintings bought by the Trust for the people of Bridlington to enjoy. Some items are on display, others in storage.
- Kilvington Watercolours – a collection of 53 watercolours of Sewerby and Bridlington made between 1820 and 1850 by Rev. Orfur William Kilvington.
- Bernard Hale – a set of 47 mainly sea/ship paintings purchased by the Trevor Field fund.
The museum at Sewerby also collects:
- Social history for the Bridlington area.
- Artworks - paintings are on display throughout the Hall, others are kept in storage until required.
- Sewerby also holds archaeology from the local area.
Anybody wishing to donate items to Sewerby Hall should complete the museum loan/deposit/bequest form (opens in new window). If the object is large then viewing/collection can be organised.
The Museum of East Riding Rural Life at Skidby Mill mainly collects objects relating to rural and agricultural heritage, including:
- Farming and milling collections.
- Photographs relating to East Riding rural life.
- Oral reminiscences relating to East Riding rural life.
In addition it has two specialist collections:
- Alex West collection of market gardening and agricultural implements.
- Norman Creaser collection of agricultural implements and models.
Anybody wishing to donate items to Skidby Mill should complete the museum loan/deposit/bequest form (opens in new window).
Treasure House
The Treasure House does not have a collection of its own, but stores many of the objects from the other collections in its environmentally-controlled museum repository.
Anybody wishing to donate items relating to social history of the East Riding should complete the museum loan/deposit/bequest form (opens in new window). Loaned objects can only be displayed in relation to the temporary exhibition programme.
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All the objects in the East Riding museum collections can be searched by going to East Riding Treasures Online.
East Riding Treasures Online (external ERYC website)
This catalogue includes some important collections such as the South Cave Weapons Cache, the Amy Johnson collection, the maritime paintings of Reuben Chappell and the paintings of Fred and Mary Elwell. Information on publications and exhibitions by the Museums Service can also be accessed through the catalogue, although at present this is not comprehensive.
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Objects to be identified can be brought into the relevant museum, and left there after an entry form is completed to document it. At Goole Museum, objects can often be dealt with on the spot.
In the case of archaeological material, objects can be taken to the Treasure House to be identified by the Museums keeper of records. In most cases the owner can expect to hear back within three weeks.
Occasionally identifications can be dealt with by post, over the telephone or via email. For more information please complete the general enquiry from on the right hand side of the page.
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If you have items you would like to donate to one of the museum collections there are a number of ways to go about it:
Items may also be loaned to the Museum Service:
- Items are often borrowed for specific exhibitions at each of the museums. In all cases an entry form is completed and the items are returned at the end of the exhibitions.
- Some items are borrowed long-term, either because they are of particular importance or because the lender needs time to decide whether they wish to donate the object. They will be put on display during the loan period, but may not be on permanent display.
- Items loaned for a short term may be put in a Recent Acquisitions case, which happens at Sewerby Hall and Beverley Guildhall.
- Photographs and documents are often borrowed to copy for the museum collections and are returned to the lender as soon as they are scanned or copied.
Loaned objects are generally collected by the lender from the museum at the end of the loan period, or can be returned by arrangement to the lender’s home by staff or volunteers.
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Our curators have specialist knowledge, either relating to the subject area of their particular museum, or to past experience elsewhere. The areas of special knowledge includes:
East Riding social history; art history; archaeology; costume; Amy Johnson; Beverley Art Gallery’s collection; pierhead painters; 19th century British sculpture; the Earle and Keyworth families of sculptors; East Riding country houses, their families and collections; Burton Constable Hall and the Constable family.
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