Collections and Display

180 Million years ago the Mendip Hills were a tropical paradise. Warm seas washed over the Somerset Levels and Glastonbury Tor was one of many islands rising from the water.  You can see evidence of many creatures that lived then in the Museum's  collections.

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The caves of Mendip were once home to many creatures including early man.  The things they left behind them are evidence of their way of life;  from iron age pots, Neolithic and Bronze age arrowheads to Roman coins and the bones of creatures such as Hippopotamus, Hyeana, Bear and Mammoth.

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The Museum has evidence of human occupation on the Mendips running back into pre-history.  The long tradition of mining is represented in Museums collections.  Four Roman ingots of lead are on display on the ground floor.    Mendip lead has been found all over the Roman Empire and as far away as Pompeii.

As well as the Archaeological and Geological Collection the Museum houses many social history artifacts together with a collection of samplers dating from the mid eighteenth century, a sample of which is on display in the 'Eveleen Perkins' Sampler Room.     

Some of statuary from  the West Front of Wells Cathedral, too fragile to return to its original position after restoration is also on display.

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