New website dedicated to the redeveloped Northampton Museum and Art Gallery is now live

A brand new website dedicated to the refurbished Northampton Museum and Art Gallery and Abington Park Museum has been launched.

Visitors to the Northampton Museum will find everything they need to know to plan their visit when the attraction in Guildhall Road opens in Spring. There is a film available to watch on the website that shows the interior of the museum coming together during the installation process.

Cabinet member for community engagement and safety, Councillor Anna King, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to launch our new website, as it makes the museums’ extensive collections much more accessible and showcases what can be discovered when we reopen our doors.

“There are so many pages of fascinating content, including audio clips and oral histories, which really bring our unique collections to life and allow visitors to completely immerse themselves in thousands of years of history.”

The website additionally features information about the new Shoe Gallery - which takes visitors on a journey through the history of shoe fashion and shoe-making in Northampton - and the redeveloped History Gallery, which tells the unique story of Northampton from prehistory to the present day.

An online catalogue showcases hundreds of objects from the museums' collections including archaeology, costume, fine art and the famous shoe collection.

Visitors now have access to exciting interactive learning material including an audio tour of Eleanor Cross artworks, an animated trip around the historic rooms of Abington Park Museum and even a 3D model of a fossilised ichthyosaurus jaw.

Upcoming exhibitions include 'We Are Northampton', which celebrates the town's rich heritage and explores Northampton's character through stories of notable residents, iconic buildings, events, activities, groups and clubs.

'Challenging Perspectives' looks back at the life and work of prolific Northamptonshire artist, Christopher Fiddes.

Finally, the 'Inspiration' exhibition examines the way artists look at the world around them and how this sparks their creative imagination.

A film of the museum's civic opening event can also be viewed on www.northamptonmuseums.com.Follow #StepInside on social media for news and updates on the Northampton Museum and Art Gallery's opening