Penmaenmawr Museum is awarded prestigious Accreditation Standard

0
1239
Penmaenmawr Museum.

Penmaenmawr Museum has achieved formal Accreditation Status.

The Accreditation Scheme sets nationally agreed standards for museums in the UK and requires that the Museum meets certain benchmarks in collections care and in visitor experience and access.

The scheme, which is regarded as one of the most innovative and effective developments in the museum sector, is administered by Arts Council England in partnership with CyMAL: Museum, Archives, Libraries Wales.

Chair of the board of Trustees, Dennis Roberts said:  “We have worked hard for two years, supported by Conwy Museums Officer Helen Bradley, to develop our collections and our visitor offer and we are very proud to be joining the ranks of other professionally recognised museums across the country.

“Our visitor figures have more than doubled in the last few years and we feel these are exciting times for the museum.’

The Museum was established in 2002 at New York Cottages, Bangor Road, Penmaenmawr.

It is an independent museum and a Charity run entirely by Volunteers with the support of Conwy County Borough Council Museums Service. The museum is free to visit, but accepts donations to assist in its running costs.

The hard-working committee hold a series of events and exhibitions each year, and regularly publish leaflets and guided walks relating to Penmaenmawr and its history.

The displays tells the fascinating story of Penmaenmawr, a pretty coastal town which  sprang to life in the early 19th Century with the creation of Graiglwyd and Penmaen quarries.

Penmaenmawr’s dense, stone was in high demand for surfacing the streets of fast growing ports and cotton towns across North West England. As the quarry grew, so did the town, providing employment for more than 1000 quarry workers at its peak in the 1930s.

Penmaenmawr also became a popular resort town, attracting notable figures such as Prime Minister William E. Gladstone. The museum also explores the enigmatic prehistory of Penmaenmawr’s upland landscapes, which are dotted with ancient monuments; stone circles, standing stones and ancient quarries used to source stone for making polished stone axes that have been found all over England and Wales.

The museum is looking forward to hosting a major exhibition this summer on the Gallipoli campaign to mark the 100 year centenary of the sacrifice of the Quarry Boys from Penmaenmawr, whose names can be seen on the Penmaenmawr war memorial.

More information about the museum’s summer programme is available online at www.penmaenmawrmuseum.co.uk