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Museum
The museum is for everyone. We keep memories of the beautiful village of Appleby Magna, and of the school at Appleby (now the Sir John Moore School). Our permanent exhibitions celebrates the lives of those who lived and worked at the school, and explore the story of Sir John Moore and this exceptional – and unique- grade 1 listed building. However, we appreciate that access to the museum is not easy for everyone, so at least once a month we host a weekend exhibition in the Hall. Have a look at our “What’s On” feature for details of our latest exhibitions.
Our community events and co-curated activities are intended to help break down barriers, allowing everyone access the local history of a nationally important building. We run programmes that are inclusive, designed to be accessible and create opportunities to get to know each other whilst engaging with high quality creative experiences. Heritage and culture is for everyone.
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The museum is beginning on a journey of redevelopment to tell more of the unique story of the site. Unlocking the Collections Project 2026
Currently the top floor of the building, originally dormitories for pupil boarders, features 3 rooms curated to show a Headmaster's study, a classroom and a dormitory as they might have been in 1891. On this floor there is also the original 17th clock mechanism and a view of the cupula which housed the original bell. There is also a gallery with a changing exhibition.
The museum has a ground floor accessible gallery which also has changing displays and is a meeting room for talks, group activities and research.
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We welcome visitors but, apart from open days, these must be pre-booked.
Contact Sally Lowe, Museum Manager, via museum@sirjohnmoore.org.uk or on 07483 707069.
Group bookings are available at £5 per person, to include a presentation with refreshments, a tour of museum and other features of interest in the building and grounds.
The museum welcomes volunteers who help with the management of the museum, undertake research, develop displays and support community activities. Please get in touch if you would like to know more.
Partnerships
We have worked with lots of community groups over the past few years, on projects as varied as local history exhibitions to tissue-flower-making events; wine and cheese nights to dog shows and family galas.
If you have an idea and want to partner with us, please get in touch. Museum@sirjohnmoore.org.uk
Currently our main community activity is a Local History Café Extended group. Projects undertaken by this group have so far focused on local history, including a leaflet detailing a walk around Appleby Magna with a focus on social history. When the museum was closed, due to Covid 19 restrictions, the group developed temporary heritage boards that were put up around the village and this has led to two permanent ones to be erected in 2022. Full details and downloads can be found on the local history café page.
As well as material held by the museum, those interested in Appleby history have a wonderful resource in an archived website created by local residents. This can be found at http://www.applebymagna.org.uk/appleby_history/
Details of our museum collection can be found here. We also have a growing collection of digital images online. We are delighted to be a participant in The Earth Museum's East Midlands project. This has allowed us to tell the story of items in our collection and how they relate to places both local and global. You can find our selected items here.
To find out more about The Earth Museum listen to an interview with its founder Janet Owen by SJMF volunteer Andy Moore. This is one of a series of podcasts produced by Andy. Details of the others will be available on the Local History Café page.
News Summary List
Unlocking the Collections Project
The Unlocking the Collections Project aims to tell the unique story of the site, which first opened as a school in 1697.
As part of this:
The historic classroom would be redesigned to reflect how it may have looked in 1697, including the installation of purpose-built benches to recreate the learning environment of the period.
The Trustees’ Room would be reinstated in place of the current Headmaster’s Office, restoring an important aspect of the building’s historic function.
In the exhibition room, the existing large glass cabinets would be replaced with smaller display cases better suited to the nature of the collection. Much of the museum’s collection consists of paper-based items, including the Headmaster’s Log Books, which would benefit from more appropriate and accessible display.
Through these changes, the project seeks to unlock the collection and bring to life the unique story of this magnificent location, using improved interpretation and thoughtful redesign to create a more engaging and historically authentic museum experience.
For a more detailed look: Unlocking the Collections Project 2026
[More]Walk around Appleby Magna
To help walk off any festive indulgences, why not take a stroll around our beautiful village using the Heritage Map created in 2019 by the History Café and volunteers at the Sir John Moore Foundation?
Full leaflet can be found here including some fascinating information about each location.
If you’d like to get involved with the heritage volunteers group, we’d be delighted to hear from you. Please contact Sally at sally.lowe@sirjohnmoore.org.uk
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