Chester New Museum

Abstract

THE foundation-stone of this museum was laid on February 5 by the Duke of Westminster, K.G. We have previously referred to the work done by the Chester Natural Science Society, and the Archæological Society, whose joint museum is now to be placed in a permanent building, uniting under one roof accommodation for it, an art gallery, and every provision for Science and Art Department classes. The remains of ancient Chester, which came to light from time, found their way to the British Museum up to the year 1849, when the Rev. W. H. Massie, the Rector of St. Mary's-on-the-Hill, called a meeting to consider the formation of a museum, and a society was formed for “the illustration and preservation of the remains of antiquity and other objects of interest in the city and in the county.” The Society's “collection” was first housed in a cupboard at the Commercial Buildings; thence it was removed, first, to the Episcopal Palace in Abbey Square, afterwards to a house in Lower Bridge Road, to join the Museum of the Natural Science Society, whose collections are of considerable extent and essentially local in character, thanks to the marked love of nature and zeal for scientific research infused into many of the Chester citizens by the founder of the Society, the late Canon Kingsley, and the admirable rules for directing local investigation by which the Society is governed. Under the presidency of Prof. McKenny Hughes, the Society remains as vigorous as ever, as is the Archæological Society under that of Dean Howson, who, since the failing health of Mr. Thomas Hughes, F.S.A., to whom great credit is due, has taken an active interest in the Society, and in 1882 became the chairman of a joint committee to secure a building to answer all the requirements of science and art in Chester. This Committee selected a site in the Grosvenor Road, the greater part of which was at once placed at their disposal by the Duke of Westminster, who, moreover, headed the subscription list with the munificent sum of 4000l., to which the Committee have since received promises of sums amounting to a further 3500l.